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JOHN W. GOULD'S 

PRIVATE JOURNAL 



or A 



V0YA;;E from NEW-YORK TO RIO DE JANEIRO^ 



TOGETHER WITH 

A BRIEF SKETCH OF HIS LIFE, 



terl^ 
labd 



HIS OCCASIONAL WRITINGS, 



EDITED BY HIS BROTHERS. 



PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY. 



NEW- YORK 
1838. 



Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1839, by 

EDWARD S. GOULD, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of 

New- York. 



SCATCHKRD AND 'ADAM3, PRINTERS. 



:r' 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 



John W. Gould, seventh son of the late Judge Gould, of 
Litchfield, Connecticut, was born on Saturday, the 5th day of 
November, 1814. He was christened John Gould; but he 
took the initial W in 1835, while residing in New-York, to 
escape the inconvenience of being mistaken and addressed for 
other John Goulds of that city. 

John's health, from childhood, was feeble ; and, by reason 
of indisposition, he was prevented from giving ordinary atten- 
tion to his duties at school. When he became old enough to 
understand the disadvantage of this inability to study, he de- 
termined, for the purpose of acquiring health, to undertake the 
labor, privations, and hardships of a farmer's boy ; arid with 
this view, at the age of fifteen, he lefi the ease and comforts 
of his father's house, and faithfully and industriously devoted 
two successive summers to the experiment. It partially suc- 
ceeded, and he returned home somev/hat benefited by the sa- 
crifice and exertion he had made. In the early part of the 
year next following he became seriously impressed with the 
importance of religion ; and in September of that year (1831), 
being then not quite seventeen, he made a public profession of 
his faith in Christ by uniting himself to the Episcopal Church 
in Litclifield, then under the pastoral charge of the Rev. Mr. 
Lucas. 



4 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 

John now became anxious to study for the ministry ; and, 
to select a mode of education best adapted to his precarious 
health, he went to the Oneida Institute, in the state of New- 
York, where manual labor formed a part of the scholars' re- 
gular duty. This experiment failed entirely : and, at length, 
discouraged by continued indisposition and repeated disap- 
pointment, he, with an energy and decision of character some- 
what remarkable, resolved to attempt the trials and perils of a 
sea-voyage as a sailor-boy before-the-mast — that humble capa- 
city being considered as, on the whole, best fitted to furnish a 
decisive remedy for his disease. 

Great pains were taken by himself and his friends to select 
a suitable vessel, a proper voyage, and a competent and kind 
captain : and, the choice having been made, he embarked at 
New- York, May 22d, 1833, on board the ship Commerce^ 
Capt. C. H. Christianson, bound to Canton, via Cape Horn and 
Valparaiso. On this voyage he was again destirjed to disap- 
pointment — but of a different character from what had pre- 
viously befallen him. Notwithstanding the precautions taken, 
and the particular inquiry and investigation made as to the 
character and disposition of the captain — notwithstanding the 
captain's personal and reiterated assurances to John's friends 
that he should be used and dealt with as his situation required 
— notwithstanding, also, the fact that several of the passengers 
knew John's social position at home, and understood his mo- 
tives in going to sea — notwithstanding all this, thecaptam and 
mates treated — and, in presence of these passengers, were svf. 
fered to treat — John with such personal indigiiity and cruelty, 
that, but for the encouragement and kindness of the carpenter 
of the ship, a hearty sailor by the name of R'niedoUar, it is 
possible that he might never have returned alive. Note. We 
interrupt the narrative here, in order to state in the most ap- 
propriate connexion, that Capt. Christianson, on his return to 
New-York, was prosecuted and held to bail in the U. S. Court. 
While the suit was in progress, a friend of the captain remon- 
strated with John about pushing the matter to extremes^ and 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 6 

asked why he would not be satisfied with receiving a very am- 
jile apology from Christiansen ? John replied, " Because, sir, 
1 wish sea-captains to learn, from the example of Christianson, 
that they cannot with impunity treat their people like dogs : 
and because I wish the poor, desolate suilor-boy, abroad and 
friendless on the oceon, to know from my example that the 
majesty of The Law will protect even his poor rights, and pu- 
nish the scoundrel who tramples on them." The trial came 
on before the Judge of the Court (at our choice, without a jury); 
and although the case in a moral sense was luUy made out, 
yet, from some t3chnical disconnection of evidence, the Judge 
felt bound to award only nominal damages — one hundred dol- 
lars : from which decision, however, he himself anticipated 
an appeal. But as we found, on inquiry, that the captain was 
pos essed of no property, and the various expenses of the trial 
had now involved him in a debt of more than twelve hundred 
dollars, we stayed further proceedmgs. 

To return from this digression. When John arrived at Val- 
pnraiso, he determined, if possible, to quit the ship. As he had 
declined taking letters to merchants and others of high-stand- 
ing abroad— being determined, from the commencement of liis 
voyage, to be, for the time, nothing but a sailor — this was like- 
ly to prove a difficult undertaking : but, fortunately, he hap- 
pened to have a line from George A. Wasson, Esq. to Robert 
H. O'Neal, boatswain of the U. S. ship Falmouth; and, through 
the intervention of that officer, he was enabled to obtain a dis- 
charge from Capt. Christianson, and also to ship as a " lands- 
man " aboard the Falmouth. Here he was in every respect 
well provided for. He sailed from Valparaiso, on his return 
home, on the 5th October, ISSii, touched at Rio de Janeiro, 
and arrived at New-York on the 1st February, 1834, 'perfect- 
ly restored in health and spirits. 

Having now nearly attained the age of twenty, it seemed, 
on the whole, advisable that he should abandon his long che- 
rished plans of study, and seek employment m some mercan- 
tile pursuit. With this view he chose New- York as his future 



b BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 

home. Here his health continued for some years tolerably 
good : but for various reasons beyond his control, his change- 
able destiny seemed to clin^ to him and his purposes ; and in 
every instance when he seemed to be well and advantageous- 
ly and permanently established, some unforeseen occurrence 
destroyed his prospects, and compelled a change of situation. 
During these years he employed some of his leisure hours in 
composing miscellaneous sea-sketches and stories ; and the se- 
veral pieces that he thus wrote and published, which all ap- 
pear in the following pages, evince a remarkable talent for that 
kind of composition, — it being always borne in mind that he 
was deprived by illness of the advantages of a regular educa- 
tion, and that he wrote, what he did write, between the ages 
of nineteen and twenty-two. 

At length John's ill health began to return ; and in the lat- 
ter part of 1837 and former part of 1838, he became so dis- 
tressed with dyspepsia, that he was almost constantly under 
the physician's charge ; and it was found necessary that, tem- 
porarily at least, some radical change should be adopted in his 
occupation and mode of life. Various expedients were sug- 
gested : but his predilections for the sea were so strong, and 
the previous experiment had proved so eminently successful, 
that the sea was again decided on as his remedy. 

An eligible berth (that of supercargo) was obtained according- 
ly, on board the barque Iiva?ioivna, Captain Dyer, bound for 
Rio de Janeiro : in which capacity John was not only sure to 
escape his former ill-treatment, but to enjoy the pleasures of the 
voyage as a passenger ; while, at the same tinje, he combined 
with these the satisfaction and advantage of a regular and pro- 
fitable vocation. He embarked, in high spirits, on the 25th June, 
1838, with a moral assurance (in which all his friends partici- 
pated) that he would return with renewed health. 

It is proper here to stale, that John's physician had men- 
tioned to us, though not to John, that his Inngs were some- 
what affected ; but the disease was, as yet, inert ; and pro- 
bably would for many years remain so, unless irritated and 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 7 

aggravated by improper treatment or exposure. So that, 
on the whole, as the voyage was regarded by all of us as a 
specific for his dyspepsia, the intimation of disease in the lungs 
did not at all shake our confidence that, with God's blessing, 
John would assuredly return to us in all respects improved by 
his journey. And we may add, that if a different result had 
been imagined by us, we should never have allowed him to 
go to sea without a full provision of medicine ; full directions 
as to their use ; and, above all, the personal attendance of some 
one of his relatives or friends. It pleased God, however, to 
disappoint our hopes ; and with broken spirits we are left to say, 
The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away : blessed be 
the name of the Lord ! 

In concluding this brief sketch, we deem it incumbent on 
us to certify to the peculiar traits of John's character, for the 
introduction of which there seems to have been no appropri- 
ate place in the preceding narrative of events. He was from 
infancy uniformly and singularly obedient and affectionate to 
hisptirents; his integrity was remarkable ; as were also his ge- 
nerosity and kindness of disposition, and his active and en- 
terprising spirit. 

The remainder of John's biography will be found in the fol- 
lowing pages, and chiefly in his own words : and in the hum- 
ble hope and confident belief that its perusal will interest, edi- 
fy and instruct all who are called to mourn his loss, his diary 
is now placed before his surviving friends and relatives in a 
permanent form. 

January, 1839, 



Before commencing John's Journal, it is deemed best to pre- 
sent some extracts from letters written by him to his mother 
shortly before sailing ; that his own views with regard to the 
voyage may be preserved. 



EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS, 

From John to his Mother. 



******** I am not competent, my dearest 
mother, to give you advice or consolation nnder your (and our) 
present grievous affliction : but I can and do pray to God — 
who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb — that you may be 
enabled to bear it, and find that His rod, as well as His staff, 
comforts you. Though our dear father is taken from us, there 
are eight of us children remaining ; and I bless God that there 
are so many of us, because we all love you dearly, and will 
do all we can to lighten your affliction, that you may live long 
in the land to watch over us. 

Dear mother, you have been every thing to me, all my life ; 
not only a parent, but a gentle, kind adviser and dear friend: 
and while I know I can never repay yon, I will endeavour 
all my life to show that I am not unmindful of my obligations ; 
and while I strive to honour you in all my ways, I will ever 
as now, pray God to bless you. 

I have left my employers because my health, so long feeble, 
has now become such that active occupation is deemed un- 
wise for the present. 

I have, very unexpectedly, obtained the berth of supercargo 
to a barque bound to Rio de Janeiro, which vessel is to sail on 

2 



10 LETTERS. 

Sunday next, June 17th. I had intended ta go home next 

week, for a few days, but we all think this opportunity is one 
Slot to be neglected : and as this is the last vessel for Rio this 
season, there is no time to be lost. A gentleman here,, just 
from Rio, speaks very favourably of the cruise ^ while the 
same God is over all, and will watch over us.. ' * * * * 

Simdaymormngy June I7th^ 

My Dearest Mother, '• 

I have, at last, a little leisure ; and I devote the first 
of it to my best and dearest employment — writing to you. 

I wished much to see you all previous to sailing,, but it is- 
perfectly impossible, and we alt thought that the opportunity 
was too good to be lost ; so go I must, but I hope you will* 
not feel grieved at this, for we are all under the guiding hand 
of God. I hope that I have sought advice and assistance from' 
the best of all sources : and, confident in Ills strength and sup 
port, I go fearing and doubtiiig nothing. 

I know that you were not willing I should go to sea before- 
|in the Commerce) : but now that I go in a superior capaci- 
ty (supercargo), 1 hope you will regard it dilferently. My 
vessel is new and staunch ; most ably commanded and man- 
ned ; and the God we serve will, I trust, hear your prayers and 
mine, that I may be safely restored to you in due time. The 
captain of the barque is most highly spoken of as a man of 
religious principle : while he is, also, a perfect master of his 
business, and a most agreeable and pleasant companion. Cir- 
cumstances thus look favourable, and I think we need fear no* 
thing. 

I have letters from several of the first mercantile houses in 
New- York ; also a very strong and excellent one from the 
Hon. J. K. Paulding, Secretary of the Navy, to Commodore 
Nicholson, commanding our squadron on the coast of Brazil;- 
so- that I shall be well cared for in Rio ; besides, there are two. 
Protestant chapels there, so that I shall not be deprived of th© 



LETTERS, ll 

means of grace. Also, in Rio I shall have the good fortune 
to find several English and American physicians ; so that, if 
sick, I shall be well taken care of in that respect. 

Through Edward's kindness — may God bless him for all 
lie has done for me ! — I am well provided with every thing I 
shall need for comfort and convenience ; so that, as far as we 
=can see, every thing looks bright and promising for the expe- 
dition, I commence my voyage under auspices the most fa- 
vourable ^ and, with God's blessing, may reasonably hope for 
success. 

And now, my dearest mother, I pray our God to have you 
in his most holy keeping, and that he will bless you and watch 
over you in all things ; and, whether I again see your face on 
•earth or not, may we live forever in heaven ! Dearest mo« 
Sher, farewell ] and may God bless you ! 

Your very affectionate son, 

JOHN W. GOULD. 

My dear sister Julia, I would write you ; but, even on this 
€ay of rest, I have no time. God bless you, dear sister 1 



As the Sunday on the morning of which the foregoing let° 
ler was written, is ascertained to have been the last day John 
ever attended church, (being also just preceding his sailing,) it 
Js interesting to know that the following were the Psalm and 
Hymn sung at the afternoon service of that day ; and opposite 
each he has written in his prayer-book, in pencil, " I7th 
June, 1838, Evening Prayer, Ascension," — the church of the 
Ascension, in New- York, under the charge of the Rev. Dr. 
Eastburn, being the one of which he was a member. The 
Psalm was the 3d and the Hymn the 156th, and both being 
(very singularly) applicable to his situation, they are here 
quoted. 



12 PSALM AND HYMN. 



Psalm 3d. 

Thou, gracious God, art my defence ; 

On thee my hopes rely : 
Thou art my glory, and shall yet 

Lift up my head on high. 

Since whensoe'er, in my distress, 
To God I made my prayer, 

He heard me from his holy hill ; 
Why should I now despair 1 

Guarded by him, I lay me down, 

My sweet repose to take ; 
For I through him securely sleep, 

Through him in safety wake. 

Salvation to the Lord belongs, 

He, only, can defend; 
His blessings he extends to all 

That on his power depend. 



Hymn 156th. 

Father, whate'er of earthly bliss 

Thy sovereign will denies, 
Accepted at thy throne, let this, 

My humble prayer arise j 

Give me a calm and thankful heart, 

From every murmur free ; 
The blessings of thy grace impart, 

And make me live to thee. 

Let the sweet hope that thou art mine 

My life and death attend ; 
Thy presence through, myjourtiey shine, 

And crown my journey's end I 



REMARKS. 13 

Blessed be God, we have the best evidence that the prayer 
of this hymn, and especially of its last two lines, was most gra- 
ciously, most fully answered ! John's Journal shows conclu- 
sively that God's "presence shone through his journey" — 
and the letters following his journal (that of Lieut. Noland 
in particular) abundantly testify that the same benign influ- 
ence " crowned his journey's end." 



John's Journal now follows ; and we state, in regard to it, 
that it was written up day by day, as it appears, and with pen 
and ink : yet, notwithstanding the occasional rolling and 
pitching of the vessel, which of course rendered it difficult to 
write at all ; notwithstanding, also, his extreme illness on 
board, which might well have rendered writing irksome, if not 
impossible — but one single and small blot of ink occurs through- 
out the whole, and but two or three words in the whole are 
changed or erased. The latter fact will be regarded as the most 
remarkable when we state, further, that the Journal is printed 
exactly as it was written^ without the alteration or addition 
of a word : a few remarks, and a very few names, are omitted., 
but nothing is altered : and, that even the most experienced 
and polished writer of our language should be able, under 
such disadvantage, to compose, without premeditation or re- 
writing, a diary of such length, so faultless in style, so correct 
and elegant in expression, is almost incredible. 



PRIVATE JOURNAL 

OP 

A VOYAGE TO RlO DE JANEIRO FROM NEW-YORK. 



Saturday, June 23c1., 1838.— Having been detained from 
Monday, the 18th inst. (at which time the bowsprit was knock- 
ed off hy a blundering brig, named Oceana) we this morning 
began to think of putting the Barque Iwanowna, John Dyer 
master, and John W. Gould supercargo, under way for Rio 
de Janeiro. 

So, lying in the East River, off the foot of Old Slip, at high 
water, half past ten o'clock A. M., began to heave away at the 
anchor. It, however, stuck fast, and heaving away thereat in 
vain, the captain determined to send ashore for more beef. So 
I went ashore, and got six beefs and the morning papers ; but 
by the time we got back to the barque, she was under way 
with wind at N. E., and stood down the East River. 

Now came the romance of real life : for the cook's wife, 
having been on board for a week, wanted to go too ; but this 
was impossible, as she was not upon the articles, and had no 
passport. So, in a storm of grief, her petticoats glanced over 
the gangway, and thus parted husband and wife. 

Just, however, as I was taking a parting glance at the Bat- 



PRIVATE JOURNAL. 15 

tery, the wind died away, and we came to anchor among the 
shad-stakes off Bedloe's Island, to wit, at half past eleven 
A.M. 

At a quarter before one o'clock, meridian, got under way 
again, with wind at E. and stood down tlie bay ; but, it haul-, 
ingto S. E. we again caine to anchor at half past two P. M. 
a mile below duarantine. Then captain, pilot and I went 
ashore at (Quarantine, rambled about and smoked cigars. At 

six P. M. saw J S and A S just from town, 

with nephews and neices, for fresh air. Gave J a cigar. 

Grew cold, went aboard, ate supper with a great appetite, and 
bunked on the transom. Couldn't sleep in my berth, because of 
the "animals." 

Sunday, June 24th. — Still at anchor at Quarantine. 
Wind S. E. and rain. Went ashore with Capt. Dyer, and up 
to town per ferry : saw Bob just arrived from the South and 
West ; went down at evening, in all the rain, to (Quarantine. 

Monday. June 25th. — Cleared off in the night, so at three 
A. M. with wind at West we weighed, and stood down the bay. 
At seven o'clock A. M. the pilot left us to the Northward ot the 
Black Buoy, much to my surprise and disappointment, as I had 
time to write only four lines to Bob. Passed the Hook at half 
past eight, and at half past nine fell calm, with here and there a 
pr.ff. Fired off and cleaned pistols, and while so doing felt 
most deadly sea-sick. Put them up quicker. Took some 
lime-water^ and felt better. Took old wrapper and lay down 
on lee quarter-deck, and had a fine nap. Rose and felt belter : 
and, as Fanny dear, says, '^ wrote Journal." 

Boxed about off the Hook in fine style until one P. M., when 
a breeze sprung up from W. S. W., which increased to a 
sneezer, and with fore and main top-mast and top-gallant 
studding-sails, we put off S. E. by E. course. No particular 
appetite for supper, though not regularly sea-sick. Only felt 
a little disagreeably. 

At evening grew squally and rainy, so I bunked on cabin 
liockers, and heard the dash of the rain, and the thunder anjd, 



16 PRIVATE JOURNAL. 

lightning, and the creaking of the ship, and the tramp of 
feet, and the quick, loud orders of the captain, without fearing 
the ship would fall overboard, and hugging myself with the 
consciousness that all that was none of my business. Let the 
old boat burn : I'm a passenger. 

So^ as aforesaid, I lay at my ease and listened, and thought 
about home and the family, and repeated poetry, and sung 
psalms, and finally went to sleep carelessly. Awoke at 12 
P. M. Went on deck. Rain was over ; sky was clear ; and 
around lay old Ocean in majesty ; no land in sight. Seemed 
like old times, so having moralized and ruralized, went below 
and turned in. Couldn't sleep for the " animals," so I rose, 
put on trowsers, stockings, and shoes, and with a lump of cam- 
phor for bouquet at my nose, went to sleep. 

Lat. 40° 27' N., Long. 74° W.* 

Tuesday, June 26th. — Hang all nautical time : my log 
goes on civil time. Rose at half past seven, washed, brushed 
and combed, and felt better. Fair weather, dead calm, and 
the barky rolled like the mischiefs. 

Breakfast set me right, and a cigar finished the busi- 
ness; and having admired my unshaven face and flowing locks 
in my cracked mirror, I " wrote Journal." Didn't " work on 
night-cap," though, a la Fanny. Then I '' loafed " on the 
quarter-deck, and learned the song " O'er the green sea." 
Bravo : pas encore. 

Admired the blue sea, but felt queerly about the appearance of 
the Battery. Wonder if I am home-sick? cut off my whiskers 
if I thought so. Don't see the steam-ship Great Western yet, 
though we have kept a bright look-out for her. 

After dinner broke out, and overhauled trunk and box. Got 
out the doctor's mixture, and took a pull. Yery agreeable. Set 
the doctor at work in my berth, hunting " animals." ITeraade 
slaying work of some of the biggest ones. At supper, our cat 
and our boy made their appearance, recovered from sea-sick- 

* These observations of latitude and longitude are made at noon on each day. 



PRIVATE JOURNAL. 17 

ness. I smoked a cigar ; chatted with the skipper ; thought how 
Broadway would look by this moon ; sung songs ; grew sen- 
timental ; thought about the girls ; and then bunked on the 
cabm transom, "afeard of toads" if I entered the berth. 

By the by, at two P. M. smart breeze sprung up from the 
West, and we have headed our course ever since at five or six 
knots. 

Lat. 39° 57' N. Long. 71° 56' W. 

Wednesday, June 27th.— Turned out at 7 o'clock. Per- 
formed my toilet greatly to my satisfaction. Breakfasted and 
smoked, ditto-ditto.-Fair weather; bright sun, and wind at 
North ; on larboard tack, standing S. E. by E. course. 

At ten A. M. fell nearly calm. At twelve a brig, which had 
been boxing about ahead of us all the morning, drifted near us, 
on the larboard beam, and hove to. He then chalked his lon- 
gitude on his larboard quarter, thus 72° 00', while we, in return 
chalked ours 70°; thus showing quite a difference : where- 
upon he rubbed out his 72, and braced up : and now, three 
P. M., is under our stern, busy in reading our name. We have 
our boat on deck, or I would board him and send home a let- 
ter ; but so it is, and no " tisser." 

Note. The letter here referred to was written, and no other 
opportunity occurring to send it, it was brought to the U. S 
in the brig Tweed to Baltimore, and by mail to New- York ' 
the following is a copy: — ' 

" 27 June, Wednesday noon : Barque Iwanowna. 
'•Dear Bob.— Brig ahead appears inclined speak us -if yea 
shall send this letter by her. We have had charming weather 
since we sailed, and I flourish charmingly ; though we have 
had calms about half the time, which a'n't agreeable. As 
touching Lat. and Lon., I neither know nor care. Believe how 
ever, lat. is 37°, lon. 69°. My love to all the family : Mother 
and Julia in especial. If the Pilot had not left us much too 
soon, I should have written you quite a letter by him. Old 

3 



18 PRIVATE JOURNAL. 

Ocean looks well, and like old times. Every thing is very 
comfortable aboard, and goes on well. 

" Your brother-in-sea,* 

"JOHN W. G.'' 

It is still dead calm (eight P. M.), and the sea is as smooth 
and tranquil as possible ; but " the gathering clouds around I 
view," and looks like a breeze from the North'ard and East'ard. 

Saw this afternoon several Portuguese men-of-war and 
some other small fry. But, oh ! the sen, in silent grandeur, 
lies outspread in majesty before me, and I now have leisure to 

contemplate his beauties, and lay my hand on his tail ! 

Got out sundry books and other "small stores" this P.M., 
and am now luxuriating in an old coat. 

Wonder what "the folks " are doinsf, about now? However, 
I am here, and shall turn in on the transom again, for fear of 
those " animals." So, good night, dear girls. Though I 
can't see you, I shall dream about you. 

Lat. 39° 12' N. Lon. 70° W. 

All ashore that a'n't going! 

Thursday, June 28th. — (Ten A. M.) Turned out this 
A. M., at seven bells, half past seven o'clock, having had a 
glorious snooze, in which I dreamed of sundry women bright 
and fair : singular, that such critters should so fill up my hin- 
nocent mind. 

Fine, stiff breeze, though not quite fair, we have ; it being 
S. S. E., and we head of course, close hauled, due East. The 
breeze, however, is hauling to the Westward, and will be fair 
before night. The air is cool, but delightful, while the sky is 
clouded, and so — 

" O'er the blue sea 
Our gallant barque glides merrily," 

Have begun this morning to pull away at the French, 

* This expression, jocosely used, proved prophetic : for before this letter 
reached its destination, poor John was too truly " in the sea," never to emerge 
until the trump of God calls him forth ! 



PRIVATE JOURNAL. 19 

though I cannot yet decide whether to take Le Brethon's book, 
or go on with Manesca. Shall soon make up my mind what 
course to steer, and then stand by for squalls. 

Broke out also sundry books, and have made a beginning 
in my Russia-bound friend, Townsend.* No place so fitting 
for the perusal of the word of God, as upon this noblest of his 
works, the sea. For he alone spreads out the heavens and 
Tides the raging of the sea, and has compassed the waters 
roith bounds until day and night come to an end ; and, there- 
fore, whether I again see my native land or not, may the lan- 
guage of my heart ever be. Praise the Lord, oh my soul ; 
and forget not all his benefits. 

Four P. M. Our wind has hauled more to the Westward, 
and is now fair. It is also increasing rapidly, and we shall 
have a gale ; never mind, have seen such cattle before. 
Lat. 39° 3' N. Long. 69° 17' W. Belay all ! 

Saturday, June 30th. — Yesterday was a regular ban- 
yan day ; for, with a fresh top-gallant breeze, we had a sea 
which would have done honor to double-reefed topsails. How- 
ever, we were in the Gulf Stream, and some allowance must be 
made for that. So I was considerably sea-sick, and could not 
eat, and could not get New- York and Litchfield out of my 
head, and was altogether very miserable. To-day, I feel some- 
what better ; and the terrible, dry, church-yard cough,t which 
has torn me to pieces all this week, having ceased entirely, I 
am better ; though the unceasing agony in which I am night 
and day from those same bed-bugs' (beg pardon) bites, which 
cover me from top to toe, is enough to call for all the patience 
of Job. Upon my honor, I have suffered more this v/eek 
from these two things alone, than I have from every cause in 
four years : and shall begin soon to protest. 

To-day, the breeze has somewhat diminished, and the sea 



• A Chronological Bible, edited by George Townsend. 

t This is John's first reference to his couj-h, and the first intimation that hi* 
friends are aware of, of his Aam-a^ a serious cough. 



20 PRIVATE JOURNAL. 

also ; but the ship rolls so much that I cannot write with any 
comfort ; nor is remaining below very comfortable ; and if this 
is a sample of the next six weeks, why, I wish I was in New- 
York again, it being three P. M. 

However, I'll take a pull at friend Townsend, and presume 
I shall feel better. , 

Lat. 37° 20' N. Long. 62^ 10' W. 

Sunday, July 1st. — Three P. M, So, then, this is the 
Sabbath ; it brings me no rest, however, for ray bites kept me 
awake all night, save here and there a nap of fifteen minutes, 
covering hideous dreams • from which I waked to find myself 
scratching away at those things which, like the horse leech, 
said continually, give ! 

I haven't got a Walker and Johnson at hand, but believe I 
now understand what the word agony means. Lucky for 
me I never swear ; for I should, in that case, have astonished 
the Devil and all his angels.* 

Can it be that this situation, which we all looked upon as 
a good one, is to be the scene of such torments all the way 
to Rio 1 If so, God be merciful to me a sinner ! For the 
idea of recovering health, in circumstances which would 
kill an Arab, is amusing. 

Look at my little den, called, in mockery, a state-room. It 
is a state-room for fleas, bed-bugs, (pardon my plainness of 
speech,) and a most abominable stench. It was just so in 

* There are two reasons for allowing this remark to be published: 
1. It is best, as far as at all proper, to present John's Journal exactly as he 
wrote it. This plan will, of course, in some instances, develope his character- 
istic hastiness of expression : but the Journal, as a record of Aimself, will not 
be the less valuable on that account; and it is certain that no friend can read 
the whole, and at all appreciate John's singularly trying and desolate situation, 
without making the just and proper allowance for what, in another person dlf- ■ 
ferently situated, would at least be extiavagant. But, 2. This particular re- 
mark is deemed not only admissible, but valuable ; because it shows the impa- 
tience with which he tasted ihecup of bitterness (afterwards drained to the very 
dregs)— while the mercy of God and the power of Grace are, bv the force of 
contrast, more triumphantly illustrated than they otherwise could be, in the sub- 
sequent record of his child-like submission to his Father's will. 



PRIVATE JOURNAL. 21 

New- York ; but I was told it would be clean and sweet as 
soon as we got to sea ; and, like a fool, I believed it. 

And is it in that space, " cabined, cribbed, confined," with 
no room to turn over without hitting the deck over-head with 
knees or back ; with many multitudes for bed fellows,- and 
with body and limbs scored with bites of every kind, which 
give me no rest day or night ; amid most villainous per- 
fumes, — is it ihere that my fifteen descents, six feet education, 
and gray hairs must sleep ? Well, it might have been worse ! 

Well, at any rate, I brewed some great punch last night for 
" sweethearts and wives" according to usage ; and as it was 
hot and strong, and I sat on one side of the cabin, and Capt. 
Dyer on the other, in a fine draught, smoking, I really forgot 
my miseries, and for a time felt happy. However, I paid for 
it as soon as I turned in. N. B. Gave the-man-at-the-wheel 
a real stiff one. 

This morning being clear and warm, though dead calm, 

(which still remains,) 1 had a fine scrubbing match ; but after 

long argument concluded that, as I had not shaved for a 

week, I would not for another. The way I appear is a cau- 

« tion : however, there are no ladies here to be shocked. 

Took two of the Doctor's pills. No. 2, this morning, and 
now feel better ; and now am about to try salt and vinegar 
for my bites. 

Lat. 36° 49 N. Long. 60^ 25' W. 

Monday, July 2nd. — N. B. Last night I slept all night 
undisturbed by bites, for the salt and vinegar cured them al- 
most entirely. 

To day is mild and pleasantly cloudy, but the wind is dead 
ahead, to wit : E. S. E. So that, after standing N. E. by E. 
till we were tired, we tacked this morning ; and are now, 3|- 
P. M., standing South by West. 

Found myself very weak to-day ; suppose 'twas because I 
had omitted the brandy for a couple of days ; so I took some 
whiskey with dinner, because, for some reason, brandy has 
become nauseous to my taste. But the whiskey made me fe- 



22 PRIVATE JOURNAL. 

verish and parched, and made my head ache ; so I swallowed 
some of the Doctor's mixture and some soda-water, and lay 
down to sleep. This did no good, so I " rose up to play," and 
scampered up the main -rigging, and felt much better therefor ; 
whereupon, I wrote •' Journal." 

Was looking just now at our two young pigs, snoozing in a 
horizontal barrel, forward of the long-boat. 

" Last v'yage," quoth Oapt. Dyer, "^ I had three pigs. When 
they got so large that one barrel wouldn't hold them, I killed 
one ; when the two grew so that they were too big for the 
barrel, I killed another ; and when the last one lay head and 
shoulders out of the barrel, why, I killed him. There was 
the end of my three pigs, and I shall serve these fellows in 
the same way." 

Alas ! poor pigs ! Haul in your snouts, and bite off you 
tails ; otherwise you'll soon get too big for the barrel, and then, 
my eyes ! how your throats will suffer. 

Lat. 38° N. Long. 59° 26' W. 

Tuesday, July 3d. — Cool weather and head wind to-day ; 
but it makes very little difference, for I have been miserable 
all day. 

Was kept awake great part of last night with my dry 
cough, which seems as if it would tear my lungs out, and 
have suffered from it sill day. Was so weak at dinner-time, 
that I could scarcely move ; so I took a very little brandy, say 
one third of a wine-glass. This threw me into a hiofh fever, 
with head-ache, and parched skin, and increased my cough 
greatly. 

I am entirely at a loss what to do, but shall dismiss stimu- 
lants of all kinds, tea and coffee, miserable as they are here, 
and drink water, and try to keep soul and body together until 
I reach Rio for there I can get advice. 

It seems hard that I should have been sent away from home 
to suffer so, alone and comfortless at sea ; but I do not intend 
to murmur, and will put my trust in God. 

This cough of mine, Doctor, is very painful to the chest, and 



PRIVATE JOURNAL. 23 

causes pain, also, lower down, and is accompanied with some 
expectoration of " lamb's wool." 

Lat. 38^ 5' N. Lon. 58° 56' W. 
Wednesday, July 4th. — To-day is mild, cloudy, and 
pleasant ; a fresh breeze, smooth sea, and we head our course. 

In health I feel much to-day as yesterday ; that is, I feel 
very weak, somewhat feverish, and my cough continues, espe- 
cially when I lie down. However, I have some hopes from my 
new regimen. 

The captain and mates treat me with great kindness, and 
have slung a cot for me in the cabin, which, as the cabin is 
small, is much in their way ; but in reply to my apologies 
they say it's no kind of matter. 

Lat. 37° 40' N. Lon. 57° 28' W. 

Thursday, July 5th. 

Lat. 37° 18' N. Lon. 54° 36' W. 

Friday, July 6th. — Was too unwell to write log yester- 
day, having been kept awake a large portion of the night be- 
fore with my cough. I also felt most severely that awful pain 
in the heart of which I have made mention to the Doctor, and 
the possibility of its return made me fear coming to sea, be- 
cause I could get here no advice. 

Last night, however, I slept better, having found that by 
lying on my right side, I escaped the cough almost entirely. 

To day I feel exceedingly weak and heavy. My state-room 
was scrubbed out yesterday, and the berth lowered, and to- 
night I take possession. Hope to escape, thereby, the cold, 
which makes me cough. 

Lat. 36° 34' N. Lon. 52° 04' W. 

Saturday, July 7th. — To-day I ieei a little better than 
yesterday, though I am exceedingly troubled with acid, and 
have nothing but charcoal to check it. Three bottles of the 
Doctor's mixture fermented, one burst, and the rest were 
spoiled : while the one bottle which was good I have used 
up : and the apothecary in New- York, instead of putting 
up for me two quart-bottles of lime-water, as my order said, 



24 PRIVATE JOURNAL. 

put up one pint-bottle only, and that's all gone. I don't know 
what I shall do when my charcoal is used up. 

We have had for three days past delightful weather, and a 
smacking, fair breeze, and are off on our course S. E. by S. at 
nine knots. 

Found my state-room quite fair last night, and slept tolera- 
bly : and if I can succeed in my hourly endeavour of laying 
myself, cares and all, in the hands of God, the voyage, with all 
its trials, will prove a great blessing to me. 

Lat. 35= 09' N. Lon. 49° 18' W. 

Sunday, July 8lh. — Another of the days of the Son of Man. 
but constant suffering gives me little opportunity to enjoy it. I 
had a most miserable night, last night ; was awakened often by 
my tearing cough, and also by ray bites : was insufferably hot 
and exceedingly cold at the different times at which I waked, 
and when asleep, dreamed most horribly. Oh! that God 
would grant me in my sleep forgetfulness ! 

I am still very weak to-day, my stomach is very acid ; and 
when the little charcoal I have, is gone, 1 shall have no means to 
look to, and cannot expect God to work a miracle.* How 
happy a lump of unslacked lime, as big as my fist, would make 
me ! But there is none on board, and no shells to make any of. 

The bre ^kfast-table this morning, having all the breakfast 
upon it, being imperfectly lashed, capsized with a tremendous 
crash, breaking almost every thing, and making fine lobscouse 
of all sorts of eatables ; but I'm not in the vein. 

The weather is delightful, the breeze fair and fresh, and we 
log nine and ten often. Made 200 miles by log in the last 
twenty-four hours. 

Have distributed some tracts to-day, and read in my Bible 
much to my comfort. What should I do without it ? I am 
also reading every day the " Visitation of the sick," and try to 

* That John should have been so poorly provided with suitable medicine is 
equally sad and surprising ; and nothing can account for it but the fact that we 
all looked on the voyage as a specific in itself^ superseding the necessity of all 
medicine. 



PRIVATE JOURNAL. 25 

feel that my present affliction is direct from God. And may 

God sanctify all liis dealings to me, that I may become more 

humble and meek ; I know that 1 deserve far more than this. 

Lat. 33° 26' N. Lon. 46" W. 

Monday, July 9th,^ — A change has come o'er the spirit of 
my dream, for which thanks be to God. An old-fashioned me- 
dicine from the ship's chest, yesterday P. M., did what the doc- 
tor's preparations failed in. 

I slept soundly and sweetly, and ivithout a dream, all night ; 
and to-day, save weakness and some cough, I feel loell. Praise 
the Lord, oh my soul ! 

Prehaps I have not been lying for the last three hours (now 
five P. M.) on an old sail on the lee quarter-deck, with a beau- 
tiful draught out of the mainsail right in my face and open 
bosom ; and there, half asleep and half awake, dreaming away 
about my dear, dear mother and Julia, and all friends in 
the United States. Oh, it was delicious ! It was something like 
going to sea -passenger, idler, loafer, what you please. 

The day is fine, the breeze fresh and fair ; and though the 
sun is somewhat hot, that does not trouble a passenger^ 
while the breeze tempers down the whole. 

In short, now that I feel well, I enjoy every thing and feel 
comfortable : thouo^h the breeze is so fresh, and the sea so high, 
that the barky rolls and pitches beautiful, and so mars my 
penmanship. 

By the bye, speaking of fresh breezes, some years since 

Capt. , of the ship of and for Boston, came out 

of Liverpool with a nor'east gale, drunk ; and drunk he re- 
mained all the way to Boston ; carried whole top-sails, scud- 
ding, when the main with four reefs would have been sail 
enough. Mates and passengers besought him to shorten sail, 
but 'twas no use. One day, on the Grand Banks, he came on 
deck after dinner — 

" Fresh, Mr. So and So," quoth he to the mate ; " rig out 
fore and main-topmast stun'sails." 

" Can't set them in this gale. Sir," said the mate. 

4 



26 PRIVATE JOURNAL, 

" Yery good, Sir ; d — n the odds !" quoth the Captain, " give 
her the booms, Sir ; rig out the booms, Sir." 

The booms were rigged out, and the ship reached Boston in 
fourteen days. , 

Then there was the Jacob Jones, Benson master, out of 
Boston, in the late war, privateering. Ship of 700 tons: 
eighteen guns : and ninety-five men. Went into the Indian 
Ocean, took two rich prizes, and fought with an East India 
Company's ship for four hours, ofi'Cape of Good Hope. Orders 
were sent out to Canton in advance, and pilots, with the J. J's 
signal, had been cruising off Macao for two months before her 
arrival. From them Capt. B. learned there were two English 
frigates in Macao roads ; one of which came down every night, 
and, having cruised about, returned in the morning. 

The pilots having informed him that the frigates usually 
came out the East side of the Island, he went up at night on 
the West, and, in the narrow channel, met the frigate, courses 
hauled up and decks lighted: whereupon he put about quicker, 
and the frigate gave chase. But at nine o'clock, being very 
dark, he (Benson) tacked and stood in, unperceived by the 
chaser, passed the other frigate in the roads, and came to an- 
chor below Whampoa, where, with the English watching 
him, he lay six months. 

Having accoutred himself in Chinese dress, cue, etc., Benson 
sounded all the waters of Macao, and found one place where 
he could get out with a foot water to spare, where no channel 
was known. So, one dark night, he slipped out, and reached 
Boston in safety. 

And then to hear our second dickey (an old man) talk 
about the Nor'west coast, and the first ditto (not old) about 
the custom-house regulations in Russia ! 

Lots of Portuguese men-of-wai* I've seen for some days 
past, and the bright moonlight at night sets me to singing, and 
thinking about the folks in the U. S. Shall be glad to get 
back again in due time, and kiss the dear little snakes. 
* Sailors' name for a small sailing fish. 



PRIVATE JOURNAL. 27 

Lat. 31° 53' N. Lon, 42° 49' W. 

Tuesday, July 10th. — I continue to get rid of all my 
troubles, save my cough, and am getting strong rapidly, and 
feel now at home. 

This is a fine, delightful day ; fair wind, though light, and 
•every thing looks bright and pleasant. Moreover, I gave the 
cook to-day some brown-stout to make yeast of ; for his soft 
tack, thus far, has been rather ponderous. If I could but re- 
collect some of my cooking, it would come into play ; howev- 
er there's those receipts mother sent me when I was at 254 
(Broadway) which, if any will suit this meridian, will bind 
on. 

N. B. Our hoy is picking over potatoes on deck : remembers 
me of the ship Commerce. 

Lat. 30° 59' N. Lon. 40° 52' W. 

Wednesday, July 11th. — Very warm, clear skj'-, and half 
a fair wind ; i. e. dead calm. What have you got to say about 
it? 

Am getting along well, save my awful cough. Don't know 
what to make of it. 

Have mended my leather trunk, too : but it's too hot : so be- 
lay. 

Lat. 30° 59' N. Lon. 39° 46' W. 

Thursday, July 12th. — This P. M. we have a slight 
breeze, which sprung up about eleven A. M., until which time 
'twas dead calm. Nothing, however, of moment has happened, 
except that I have overhauled my hair-trunk, and taken out 
all my unfiled letters to read and file. Melancholy satisfaction to 
read 'em over ! Boy, bring me a towel to wipe my eyes. 
Al3o, the cook has made soft-tack with my porter yeast, quite 
respectably, and makes some more this P. M. 

The fleas bit me all up last night ; and as my cough and 
shortness of breath become more and more severe, I don't know 
what to do : and, what makes me feel desolate, is the fact that I 
must wait six weeks before I can get medical advice. Who 
would not sell a farm and go to sea? 



28 PRIVATE JOURNAL. 

Lat. 30° 53' N. Lon. 39° 30' W. 

Friday, July 13th. — Fair weather ; cloudy ; not too 
warm, and fair breeze, and we head our course S. E. by S. at 
very good speed. 

In health, I don't feel well. Had a coughing-match last 
night, which ended in a nose-bleeding : so I've knocked off 
brandy and coffee to-day ; and therefore feel weak, etc. 

Was hailed just now (four P. M.) by an English sloop-of- 
war, told them where from and where bound, etc. and did not 
take the trouble to ask her anything.* Her crowded poop, of- 
ficers and several ladies, looked like old times. However, let 
her go ; my head aches. 

Lat. 29° 39' N. Lon. 3S° 57' W. 

Saturday, July 14th. — Fine, clear day, with occasional 
clouds to keep off the sun. Wind moderate from E., and we 
head our course, S. S. E. very comfortably. Nothing of mo- 
ment has occurred, and we jog quietly along towards the 
Equator. 

In health, I feel better. Think the omission of the brandy 
has diminished the cough, though it has also brought on the 
acid again. However, we'll see. 

Lat. 28° 14' N. Lon. 37° 29' W. 

Sunday, July 15th. — Fair, mild, shady, delightful weath- 
er, and with a fair breeze we are ploughing our way S. S. 
E., expecting soon to cross the Northern tropic. 

To-day has been quiet and still ; and going over the ser- 
vice for the day, I have endeavored to fancy myself in one of 
the earthly temples of our God. 

No one can appreciate, save through experience, the amount 
of this deprivation of religious privilege ; and I renewedly 
declare how prompt I will be to avail myself of those privi- 
leges, if God, in great mercy, will restore them to me. 

If I could hear that old Brick-Church bell now, 1 believe it 
would set me crazy. 

* Here was an opportunity to get both medicine and medical advice : but 
Jehn does not seem to have thought of it. 



PRIVATE JOURNAL. 29 

May God bless my dear mother, too. I hope she is better; 
And may all my friends be blessed, and may I return to them 
in peace soon ! 

Lat. 26° 37' N. Lon. 36° W. 

Monday, July 16th, — Fair, mild, "shady," weather; and 
the wind, save occasional calms, has been the N. E. Trade. 
Now, two P. M., a squall of rain has come on, and the breeze, 
of course, freshens, and we plough along finely. 

In health, I feel 7iot very well. The cough continues, and 
to-day the acid has beconrie so severe- that I took a table-spoon- 
ful of brandy at dinner, since which I feel better. 

Oar potatoes are all gone, and our cook is a blockhead ; 
and our provisions having been selected, and laid in with true 
down-east economy, we begin to suffer in the way of eatables. 
However, it's no matter. 

Lat. 25° 29' N. Lon. 35° 22' W. 

Tuesday, July 17th. — Pleasant weather, but baffling 
winds, or calms in agreeable profusion, whereat the rest fret ; 
and I take it easy, as I usually do. 

Feel like a white man to-day, having shaved : the first time 
in a fortnifrht, and the second since leaving New- York. — 
There's laziness for you. My cough continues, — pain in the 
heart also : but the brandy (which aggravates the two former) 
has driven away the acid. So, there I have my choice, 

A barque passed to windward (E.) of us this morning, and 
another is now in sight to windward. 

Lat. 24° 40' N. liOn. 35° 11' W. 

Wednesday, July 18th. — Clear, shady, mild weather, 
and a smacking breeze from East ; so we head S. S. E., and 
are rolling and pitching towards the Line in fine style, as wit- 
ness my penmanship. 

N. B. Have worn woollen clothes entirely ever since we 
sailed, and even here a thin dress would be cool. 

Had a terrible fit of acid last night ; have become more 
strict in diet in consequence, and have knocked oif cigars for 



30 PRIVATE JOURN.AL. 

« 

the experiment. My cough is terrible, and the pain in the 
heart also. Don't know which way to turn. 

Lat. 23° 5' N. I.on. 34° 25' W. 

Thursday, July 19th. — Chilly; sky overcast; gloomy 
weather ; and a fresh breeze, and a rongh sea ; and so we 
pitch and roll. We are now under the sun. " 

In health I am badly off. Congh continues, and I am try- 
ing a touch of the starving system ; so I am quite weak. The 
acid does not trouble me to-day ; can't write — so, belay. 
Lat. 20° 54' N. Lon. 33° 20' W. 

Friday, July 20th. — Weather same as yesterday. Health, 
etc. somewhat worse. 

Lat. 19o 25' K Lon. 32° 19' W.* • 

Saturday, July 2 1st. — Weather pleasanter than yester- 
day, and the wind fairer, and we head our course, S. E. 

In health, I feel somewhat better, as now, giving up all lazi- 
ness and weakness, I walk decks nearly all day. It is hard, 
but will do me good. Cough continues : pain in the heart, 
ditto. 

N. B. Killed pig yesterday, and had (mock) turtle soup 
with the aid of my brandy, and sea-pie for dinner, to-day. Can't 
write for the swell. 

Lat. 18° N. Lon. 31° 11' W. 

Sunday, July 22d. — Another of the days our Lord calls 
his own ; but, except being more quiet than other days, it is 
little sanctified in over seven-fathom water. 

However, I have endeavored to be in the spirit on the 
Lord's Day, though I cannot be in his house, and hope 1 have 
to some extent succeeded. I think I never felt my own lit- 
tleness, and the necessity of entire dependence on God, so 
thoroughly as now ; and if J now learn to trust all to Him, 
and remember it in more prosperous days (should I see them), 
•this voyage will be time well spent. 

* These words termiaate page 22 of John's Journal, after which he has not 
numbered the pages. 



PRIVATE JOURNAL. 31 

Had a bad night, last. Slept little ; coughed that dry, tear- 
ing cough, much ; and tlmt awful pain in the heart once or 
tvi'ice made the current of life stand still. 

The weather is delightfully cool, the wind fair, the sea 
rough ; and the sea at night blazes : (phosphorescent.) 
Lat. 16° 30' N. Lon. 29° 15' W. 
Monday, July 23d. — Clear, comfortable weather; fair 
breeze, and we head S. S. E. The weather here is remarka- 
ble for the Tropics, being actually chilly at night and morning ; 
while in the day it is cool and comfortable. 

Had fine lots of conghing last night ; and it keeps on to-day, 
being very troublesome : pain in the heart is missing to-day ; 
but the acid has driven me to brandy. Since I came to sea, 
brandy tastes horribly to me, and I put oft" its use as long as 
possible. 

Sea is rough, and the barky rolls " just so." 
Lat. 15° 6' N. Lon. 27° 47' W. 
" Tuesday, July 24th. — Delightful weather, and a glorious 
breeze from N. N. E., and we, with all weather studding-sails, 
head S. E, ; but my cough and the pain in my heart are both 
terrible. So, belay. 

Lat. 13° 36' N. Lon. 26° 10' W. 
Wednesday, July 25th. — Weather pleasant, though some- 
what warm ; yet far from hot. Wind this P. M. has hauled 
ahead again, and we head S. by W. Did six hours of de- 
lightful sleeping last night, and to-day feel much better ; the 
pain in the heart and the coagh having nearly ceased for the 
day, though at night they will reign lord of the ascendant. 
Weather is very mild for the latitude, though the clear sun is 
pretty hot; but we have clouds and a breeze from Africa to 
make it easy. 

The wind, blowing so constantly from the Eastward, has 
covered our rigging and sails with the yellow sand of the 
Great Desert ! Think of that — Sahara ! 
Lat. 12° 13' N. Lon. 25° W. 
Thursday, July 26th. — Dead calm — that's flat, upon ho- 



32 PRIVATE JOURNAL. 

nor. However, the sea is no flat ; but has a cross swell, which 
tosses we about in every direction. The friendly clouds keep 
off the most of the sun, but when he does get a pull at us, it 
is like the blaze of the tropics, hot : and yet not hotter than in 
New- York before we sailed. 

N. B. Tell Alexander Twining that the shooting of the 
stars was seen, in great splendour, off Cape Horn, Nov. I4th, 
1836, on board ship Swan ; and at Havana, Nov. 14th, 
1833. 

Turned in last night at 12, for I find it is of no avail to do 
so earlier, and slept gloriously till six, this A. M., and dream- 
ed of home and dear mother. 

The cough is not so bad to-day, but the heart is very pain- 
ful. Acid not much ; though the beef here is so perfectly in- 
tolerable, gristle and shanks, that I can't eat it, and the 
seamen growl famously. I don't understand that kind of 
economy, but these sunrise down-easters make money that 
way. 

Lat. 11° 27' N. Lon. 24° 33^ W.* 

Friday, July 27th. — Calm all the morning, and warm : 
so I mounted a pair of nankins ; found great comfort there- 
from. At noon a hreeze sprung up from the Westward, and 
we head our course at S. E. Clouds keep us much in the 
shade, or the heat would be oppressive. Have had several 
fine showers this P. M., and the air feels fresh. 

Have been trying Madeira for a few days, but found it did 
not suit ; so to-day I tried a little gin. This was all sour, and 
cascaded every thing. The cough is easy : the heart uneasy, 
very. 

* On the first blank leaf of the book in which John's Journal is written, is 
the following note in pencil : 

"Private Journal from New- York towards Rio; which, should I not be spar- 
ed to return home, I wish handed to my dear mother, and sister Julia. If they 
wish, they can peruse it. 
At Sea-, July 26th, 1838. 

Lat. 11° 27' N. } JOHN W.GOULD. 

Lon. 240 33' W. 



* PRIVATE JOURNAL. 33 

Lat. 11° 04' N. Lon. 23° 58' W. 

Saturday, July 28th. — Save an occasional cat's-paw, this . 
day lias been dead calm : and, save an occasional cloud, oh ! 
how hot ! This A. M., at ten o'clock, two of the crew caught 
a shark, eio^ht feet long-, in a bow-line. I saw the feat, and 
certainly John Shark looks beautifully in the water. How- 
ever, he was caught and hauled aboard, his liver taken out, 
the " tail-steaks" and the end of the nose cut ofi^ and the rest 
was thrown overboard. 

This P. M. we were boarded by a boat from the ship Asia, 
Coles master, 28 days from Boston for Canton ; she having 
been lying becalmed all day about three miles off. They 
thought we might be from Cape de Verd Islands, and wished 
to get vegetables, but we were out long ago ; so Capt. Coles' 
lady will be disappointed. I asked if he had any lime or 
shells on board, but he had none ; so, after a civil chat, he 
withdrew. 

My cough to-day is quite severe ; the pain in the heart con- 
stant, and also very severe ; insomuch that I took ten drops of 
laudanum this A. M. with no effect ; while the acid is over- 
whelming, and charcoal seems to do no good. 

'' Judge not the Lord by feeble sense." 

Lat. 10° 44' N. Lon. 23° 16' W. 

Sunday, July 29th. — Again the day returns, but where 
are the privileges of the gospel ? 

Fine breeze last niglit : light ones to-day. Rained all night 
and most of to-day : very like the Line. 

Pain iti the heart, to-day, terrible : took fifteen drops of lau- 
danum this morning. Did some good, and shut up the cough 
altogether. 

Lat. 10° 1' N. Lon. 22° W. 

Monday, July 30th. — Fair, shady, pleasant weather ; fine 
breeze, though not quite fair, being from S. W. However, it 
is better than a calm, and we head S. S. E., and get alono- 
with the dusty travelling. 

As to health ; the laudanum, five drops at nine this A. M,, 

5 



34 PRIVATE JOURNAL. 

five at four P. M., and eighteen last night at nine, seems to 
have nearly quelled the cough, and mollified the pain in the 
heart greatly. The acid is in abeyance. 

Nothing has occurred to-day, save that I have shaved my- 
self, and feel better. 

Lat. 9^15'N. Lon. 21° 22' W. 

Tuesday, July 31st. — Fine, cool ! shady, pleasant weather ; 
but this S. W. trade-wind is not what we want, and with a 
strong Easterly current, lee-way, variation of the compass, &c. 
we are drifting bodily on to the coast of Africa ; Senegambia 
being only four degrees further East than we. 

Laudanum last night at eight, fifteen drops, and at nine 
this A. M. ten drops, keeps down the cough and eases the 
pain in the heart, save one spasm on rising this morning, in 
which I thought I should die. God have mercy upon me, 
and let me see Home before I die ! 

Lat. 8o 7' N. Lon. 19° 50' W. 

Wednesday, August 1st. — Fine, mild, shady weather; 
but this S. W. trade is inconvenient; and, it having hauled to 
S. S. W. at two this P. M., we tacked ship, and are now 
standing W. on the larboard tack. 

Laudanum last night, fifteen drops, and ten drops this A. M. 
at nine, keeps down the cough, and eases the heart, so that I 
can just live, but that is all ; for any exertion, even talking, 
starts the cough, and I have to puff ten minutes to prevent it, 
and occasional spasms in the heart double me up. Good Lord, 
deliver me ! 

Lat. 7° 26' N. Lon. 18° 20' W, 

Thursday, August 2d. — Fine weather, rather warm, but 
shady. This S. W. wind bothers us. Tacked at four this 
A. M., and stood S. and E. ; and at noon were within two or 
three miles of where we were yesterday ; so that's slow. 

Laudanum last night at nine, twenty drops, and this A. M. 
at nine, ten drops, has kept me, save occasional spasms, com- 
fortable. 



PRIVATE JOURNAL. 35 

Am supplied with charcoal from the galley, which^ being 
pounded in a rag, keeps down the acid wonderfully. 

Tacked to Westward this P. M. at four. 

Lat. 7° 28' N. Lon. 18° 20' W. 

Friday, August 3d. — Five years ago, Saturday, 3d Au- 
gust, 1833, I saw and doubled Cape Horn, in the ship Com- 
merce. 

Fine weather, shady and comfortable ; and we are heading 
from W. by N. to W. S. W. on our variable S. W. trade ; but, 
with variation and current, we find this leg much better than 
the other. 

Laudanum at nine last evening, twenty drops, and this A. 
M. at ten, five drops, keeps me pretty comfortable, though I 
feel the laudanum in other ways, feverishness, drowsiness, etc. 
not pleasant. 

Oh ! for Rio ! and then oh ! for Home ! — for I made a great 
mistake in coming to sea, and yet it seemed marked out by 
Providence. 

Lat. 6° 53' N. Lon. 19° 34' W. 

Saturday, August 4th, — Fine, shady, though rather hot. 
The nights are cool, however, and " that's a blessin'." Our 
variable S. S. W. trade continues, and we head as yesterday, 
at about five knots. 

Laudanum last night at nine, fifteen drops, and none to-day, 
has kept me so-so. I am trying to dispense with it in the day- 
time, but we shall see. I am very weak, and can scarcely 
crawl upon deck and down again, and have very little appe- 
tite. My only hope, now, is in the mercy of God, or I shall 
never see Rio. 

Lat. 6° 12' N. Lon. 21° 1' W. 

Sunday, August 5th. — The holy Sabbath again, but these 
Sabbaths have made me think of those at home, and then I 
feel very sad. Will God ever restore me to those privileges 
again ? I feel so sick and weak to-day, that I have no men- 
tal energy ; and my mind wanders every where, and I cannot 



36 PRIVATE JOURNAL. 

control it. Home — home — is always in my thoughts ; but alas ! 
I am far away, and sickness has laid its hand upon me heavi- 
ly. I try to put all my trust in God, and to leave my cares and 
troubles at His feet ; but the Devil is very busy with me. 

Laudanum] last night, fifteen drops, this A. M. at ten, seven 
drops, has not been enough to keep me quiet. 1 have coughed 
that single dry hack more or less all day, while the pain in the 
heart, thus provoked, is very severe at times. 

I am very weak, often very dizzy, have very little appetite, 
and am so thin that every one on board observes it. 1 cannot 
live so, long ; and, as the winds are contrary and our progress 
slow, I must begin seriously to prepare for death. 

Oh, God ! must it be so ? here at sea ? far away from 
home and mother ? Thy will he done ! 

Lat. 5° 51' N. Lon. 20° 31' W. 

Monday, August 6th. — Fine, comfortable weather, and 
quite cool at night ; while all to-day the sky has been over- 
cast, and every thing looks dark, and my soul is dark, and my 
heart is heavy, and my spirits begin to fail, and the wind and 
current, and every thing is against us, and we go slow enough. 
Would to God I were now in Litchfield ! Last year I com- 
plained of being obliged to stay there,* surrounded with com- 
forts ; and this Spring refused to go there again.f and now God 
has punished my ingratitude by making me suffer pain, weak- 
ness, and (in some respects) want, far away at sea. I never 
will corn-plain of any situation in the United States again, if 
God will only spare my life that I may return thither. 

Have been reading Doddridge's chapter (in "Rise and Pro- 
gress,") addressed to those under afHiction ; it has comforted 
me much. 

Laudanum, last night twenty drops, has not kept me quiet. 
I ate some Bonito (fish, caught alongside) last night at tea, and 
it made me sick, and 1 cascaded all my supper and about a 

* Because out of employment. 

t His objection was, that going there seemed to be a substitute for going to 
sea, on which he was bent. 



PRIVATE JOURNAL. 37 

gallon of acid. I have coughed all day, and feel weak, and 
sore, and bad. 

Lat. 5°6'N. Lon. 19° 12' W. 

Tuesday, August 7th. — Fine, cool, pleasant, shady 
weather, and (but) head wind. Tacked at four this A. M., 
and are now heading fro n W. to W. S. W. 

Breeze very fresfi, sea quite rough ; ship rolls famously. 
Five sail (one ship — the Asia — two brigs and two schooners) 
in sight this morning, all beating, as we are, to the Southward. 
Misery loves company. 
Laudanum last night twenty drops : slept deliciously : dream- 
ed of home and mother. 

Have coughed all day ; and after dinner (at which I ate 
nothing — no appetite) " threw my bread upon the waters" a 
la Niagara. Terrible fit of acid, and yet I take a peck of char- 
coal per diem. 

Lat. 4° 21' N. Lon. 18° 45' W. 

Wednesday, August 8th. — 

Lat. 3° 30' N. Lon. 20° W. 

Thursday, August 9th. — Was too sick yesterday to write 
log. Cascaded all my breakfast about ten A. M., and also 
every medicine I took to keep things easy. Was very sick 
and weak all day. Ate a biscuit soaked in ?«zsweetened tea 
for supper, and the same in coffee, sans sugar, with a small bit 
of lean ham this A. M. for breakfast. 

I am convinced that the acid of my stomach is caused by 
some other disease. I am very weak, and so thin, really my 
cheek- bones almost pierce the skin. 

Have coughed ail day, which tears me to pieces. Head 
wind and light ; we don't go at all. Laudanum twenty drops 
last night, as usual. 

Lut. 3° 8' N. Lon. 21° 11' W. 

Friday, August 10th. — Went on allowance of water — one 
gallon per man per diem, day before yesterday, and such wa- 
ter ! It has been eighteen months in the hold, having been 
" reserve stock," which they never happened to want, and was 



38 



PRIVATE JOURNAL. 



not changed in port because it would have cost about six dol- 
lars ! Oh, this down-east economy ! And here, too, we are 
all alike. Equality is the order of the day ; and, from captain 
to cook, all have the same. 

The water is opaque with Qnud, and has a perfume which 
knocks me down. 

I began again yesterday the use of brandy as a tonic, in very 
small doses. 

But these are past and passing. Now, this morning, thanks 
be to God, the wind hauled aft, and we have headed all day 
S. W. by S. I S. Now that's nearly a fair wind, so clap yonr 
hands. The weather to-day is delightful, and the sea is 
smooth, and all so pretty. 

Am continuing the brandy and laudanum. Had another 
acid fit, cast up, etc. before dinner. Have begun upon baked 
biscuit and weak brandy and water : think that can't sour. 
Oh, for home ! Just at this time (three o'clock P. M.) next 
year, if I am there, drink a tumbler of water from N. W. cor- 
ner of that well, and then bless God for his mercy. 
Lat. 2° 44' N. Lon. 22° 45' W. 
Saturday, August 11th. — Fine, pleasant weather, cool 
and comfortable ; wind, first half of the day, fair : last half, not 
so much so. But, 'cos of a Westerly current, we get South 
slowly, and Rio seems as distant as Jerusalem. Smooth sea 
and fine sailing. 

Laudanum last night twenty drops, did not have its usual ef- 
fect. I have continued to-day the baked biscuit and brandy, with 
charcoal, and up to this time (four P. M.) have felt no acid. 
But I have coughed all day, and it tears me to pieces, and I 
feel very weak still. Took two doses of salts on account of 
brandy. 

Read five or six chapters in Doddridge (" Rise and Progress"), 
and feel refreshed and restored thereby. 

Lat. 1° 58' N. Lon. 24° 18' W. 
Sunday, August 12th. — Fine, delightful weather, cool and 
pleasant ; and a fine, fair breeze, for we head S. W. by S. 



PRIVATE JOURNAL. 39 

which, with the variation, is a S. S. W. course, due. The 
breeze is fresh and the sea well and handsomely " ruffled ;" 
so that this is just the beau-ideal of sailing, if a body only had 
health to enjoy it. 

However, the change of wind has raised my spirits, and I 
begin to hope once more. N. B. Thermometer on deck at this 
time (three P. M.) in the shade and wind, stands at 80° ; yet 
it is fairly cool to the feelings, because of the perfect draught, 
which is nowhere so perfect as at sea. However, we are now 
"within one" of the Line. 

Touching health. I found, two days ago, that the brandy 
and laudanum together were getting " very expensive ;" so 
yesterday I took, at intervals, two doses of Epsom salts. So, I 
am sick and weak to-day. Some liquorice paste, which Capt. 
D. gave me to ease my cough, has turned sour regularly with- 
in ten minutes of swallowing, and come up again. Economi- 
cal that, very. Have been trying for two days past to make lime 
out of beef-bones ; but, for some reason, we fail. While the char- 
coal from the galley, which the boy pounds for me, is seldom 
clean, and tastes horribly. I diet upon coffee without sugar 
and baked biscuit soaked therein, with a small bit of lean fried 
ham for breakfast, with a quarter wine-glass of brandy after- 
wards. For dinner, cold water, and baked biscuit soaked, and 
brandy, ditto, afterwards ; and ditto, ditto, for tea ; for their Bo- 
hea, without sugar, is too much. How different this from the 
nice, fresh bread and butter my dear mother makes, and that 
noble water, too ! Oh God ! bring me there again in thine 
own good time ! 

My cough continues, and grows somewhat worse, as does 
the pain in the heart ; for these retchings and stretchings make 
every thing sore. 

The cough is that single, consumptive, dry hack, but which 
seems to increase with the increase of acid. Don't quite 
understand it for that reason.* 

* In a pencil note referring to this remark, and dated the next day, August 



40 PRIVATE JOURNAL. 

I have had rest and quietness to-day, and some pleasant mo- 
ments in, as I humbly hope, communion with God. But the 
great interruption to religious thought and prayer is the 
thought of ^owe, which rushes iuto the mind of the poor, 
weak, sick man far away at sea, like a thunderbolt, driving 
all thought of religion and prayer from the lips, unless it be to 
pray that God would restore me to the green pastures and 
still waters of my native land, soon and well. 

Oh ! those who live at home at ease don't know how deso- 
late and forsaken I feel ; for I am sick, and the medicines 
I have are not the right ones, and (save the liquids) are not 
good. And all this I suffer because I took advice. The doc- 
tor told me Sup. Garb Soda and Lime- Water were no use :* 
and yet; with either, I would be very comfortable. 
Lat, 0° 42' N. Lon. 25° 44' W. 

Monday, August 13th. — Fine, delightful, cool weather : 
the breeze we had yesterday has freshened very much ; 
and, being still sharp-braced, we roll and pitch famously — 
hence my penmanship. 

We crossed the Equator (by computation) at twelve o'clock 
midnight, last night, or this morning, which you please. 

Laudanum last night, twenty-five drops, didn't keep the 
cough still — I believe nothing will. Brandy and charcoal 
(diet as before) keep back acid ; and I am now waiting for 
Rio and for God. 

How I live ! How I sleep ! I, that was a perfect old ba- 
chelor in the regularity of my toilet, now have to turn out at 
seven bells, and dressing first (horrors !) go on deck, and wash 
and brush in the wind and sun. Stop, my tears ! 
Lat. 0° 56' S. Lon. 26° 57' W. 

Tuesday, August 14th. — Fme, pleasant weather ; cool 
and comfortable ; rough sea, and we head, close hauled, from 



13th, John says — " Begin to doubt whether this cough has any thing to do with 
the acid. Is it not consumptive entirely 1" 

* Of no use in reference to a cure, is what was meant. 



PRIVATE JOURNAL. 41 

S. W. to S. by W. and roll and plunge much — still, we go 
ahead. 

Saw, last night, bright lights to leeward ; whalers trying out 
oil : very picturesque. 

The pain in the heart became so severe yesterday, that I 
dropped brandy, and took at bed-time thirty drops of lauda- 
num. This kept the pain and cough more down, though the 
former troubled me much on rising. 

Lying down aggravates it, as it did in my dear father's 
case : for this is the same disease he had. I know it as well as 
any body,* 

Have been thinking to-day what a fool I am. I believe I 
am really given over to work folly. 

Now, the doctor at first evidently wanted me to try land ex- 
ercise through the summer, when alone it is possible ; and 
then, if that failed, to go to sea in the winter. This was rea- 
son and wisdom. 

But I, headlong as ever, knowing better than any body else, 
was bent and determined to go to sea.t And it must be done 
immediately, on the shirt-tearing principle. There was no 
place like Rio ; no salt water like that between Rio and New- 
York ; and this was the last vessel (N. B. It is the very last) ; 
and there was no time for chat, and the doctor was hurried, 
and Edward, my dear, good brother Edward, he was hurried, 
and I was hurried, and half ready, with a disease in the heart 
which might be fatal at any moment, and with, besides, an- 
other disease, either liver complaint or consumption, from 
which the doctor had expressed his opinion the acid sprung, 
and with no medicine for either of the first three above-named 
diseases, and a few alkalies, I came a sixty day voyage " for to 
cure " — what ? — " sour stomach .'" 

Now, either I am a perfect /ooZ, or else (and I pray it may 

• John was mistaken in this opinion, of course. 

I He had once hetn perfectly cured of what we all supposed to be the same 
complaint by going to sea, and there was nothing strange or unreasonable in 
his now preferring to repeat the experiment. 

6 



42 PRIVATE JOURNAL. 

prove so) the whole has been ordained of God for wise reasons, 
for His glory and my own best good. At that, then, dearest 
mother, I'll leave it. I know I have your prayers, and that is 
consolation. 

Lat. 2° 46' S. Long. 27° 10' W. 

Wednesday, August 15th. — Clear, fine weather, cool and 
comfortable ; wind, same as yesterday, save less : course the 
same, sea smoother, and I shaved this A. M. 

Find my burnt biscuit very costive : have taken three wines 
of salts to-day. Have slopped coffee, and find heart and cough 
much easier ; thirty drops of laudanum last night ; coughed 
all night ; had an awful time. Wheat-gruel for dinner to-day, 
all lumps, half cooked. Had my boots blacked, to "go ashore " 
in. 

Lat. 4° 9' S. Lon. 27° 54' W. 

Thursday, August 16th. — Fine, pleasant weather, cool 
and comfortable ; wind fair, as usual, only too light, and the 
sea quite smooth. Think it grows somewhat warmer as we 
near the coast, parallel to which we are now sailing, at a dis- 
tance of about four hundred miles. 

Getting every thing ready for Rio, where we hope to be, 
with God's blessing, in ten days at the farthest. Hope our 
troubles and delays are now over, for we shall make a long 
passage of it, any how. 

I find the wheat water-porridge, salted, nutmeg'd and " the 
least bit" sweetened, very good ; and I eat it solely, save a 
piece of lean ham at breakfast. Took, last night, thirty drops of 
laudanum, and though the heart was at first quiet, I coughed 
for an hour, expectorating much — as I do now whenever I 
cough. This tore me to pieces, but I slept comfortably the 
rest of the night. Can't bear lying down. I take my " home- 
made" charcoal, three teaspoonsful before each meal, and 
one midway between each two, except the evening dose, which 
is at eight o'clock ; and yet, in my coughing fits 1 expectorate 
acid. I fear the coal does no good — and fear to leave it off. 
Never mind, we'll trust in God's mercy yet. 



PRIVATE JOURNAL. 43 

Lat. 5° 32' S. Long. 28° 46' W. 

Friday, August 17th. — Fine, pleasant, shady weather, 
though rather warmer than it has been. The wind is, as 
ustial, variable : but, by being close-hauled, we make good 
course, heading from S. W. to S. by W. 

Laudanum last night, thirty drops, which kept the heart 
quiet, and having had a severe coughing and expectorating 
fit before I turned in, was very quiet after. Porridge and ham, 
as usual. Feel much better than I did five days ago, though 
still very weak, and all inside very sore. 

Lat. 6° 58' S. Lon. 29° 38' W: 

Saturday, August 18th. — Weather same as yesterday, 
save a little warmer ; though the nights are really cold. The 
wind is also the same ; very good what there is of it, and we 
trot along towards Rio. 

Had my coughing fit last night before turning in. Took 
thirty diops laudanum, but was disturbed by the cough seve- 
ral times. Miserable night of it. However, feel tolerably to- 
day. Diet as usual, and I use a little liquorice 'cos the bene- 
fit is greater than the evil. 

Oh, that I could fix my thoughts more on God ! — but home 
is ever uppermost. Is it wrong to think of home — abroad — 
sick — weak ? 

Lat. 8" 34' S. Long. 30° 35' W. 

Sunday, August 19th. — Weather, same as yesterday. 
Wind, S. E. trade, and fresh, and the sea is very rough, and 
our " deep " barky rolls and pitches so I can hardly keep my 
seat. N. B. What d'ye think of my dropping laudanum^ 
in such a swell, by a dim lamp 1 

Laudanum, thirty drops last night : the heart was quiet, and 
the cough, (having had its previous frolic, which has become 
regular !) behaved pretty well. 

I have not much enjoyed the day, for I am very weak, and 
for the above cause feel feverish, and sick, and my headachesj 
and all trains of religious thought are broken in upon by the 



44 PRITATE JOURNAL. 

thoughts of mother, Julia, and home. God bless them, and all 
the rest on this holy day ! 

Lat. 10° 38' S. Lon. 31° 39' W. 

Monday. August 20th. — Wind very fresh : weather, sea, 
&.C. the same as yesterday. 

Laudanum, Iwenty-five drops last night, did very well. 
Cough moderate. Night, " all standing," comfortable. 

Have marked a dozen shirt collars J. W. G. with indelible 
ink. Feel some better to-day, though weak. Diet as usual. 
Lat. 12° 38' S. Lon. 32° 12' W. 

Tuesday, August 21st. — Weather cool, and warm again, 
wind light, and we don't head our course, and the sea rolls. 

Laudanum last night, twenty- five drops. Heart was easy ; 
cough was vneasy last night ; and to-day — oh, it tears my life 
out : the heart seems drawn up into a bunch with every cough, 
and then expands with a snap. 

I pray God we may soon get to Rio, for the clock of my life 
seems worn out, and just ticks along through His sustain- 
ing mercy. I am tired— weak — sick — and almost despond- 
ing. 

Lat. 14° 10' S. Lon. 33° 8' W. 

Wednesday, August 22d. — Weather to-day very chilly, 
with S. E. wind, no wonder. Put on my only pair of draw- 
ers, (how could! come to sea without flannel -shirts and draw- 
ers ? and yet I did so ; and, among secondary causes, what 
may 1 not attribute to this want ?) and felt more comfortable. 
The ship heads her course, and '■^ goes it " merrily. 

Laudanum and diet as usual. Feel much more weak on 
account of a little salts. Have to use them each alternate day. 
So I feel weak, sick, and sad ; and think about home and mo- 
ther. Hope to be in Rio in four or five days. 

Lat. 15° 21' S. Lon. 33° 47' W. Course, S. S. W. \ W. 
Rio lies in Lat. 22° 52' S. Lon. 43° 18' W. 

Thursday, August 23d. — Weather, wind, sea, etc., same 
as yesterday. Laudanum and diet as usual. Heart to-day 
very painful ; something appears to be running down on it, if 



PRIVATE JOURNAL. 45 

I may say so. Cough very quiet, which is a great mercy. 
Stomach easy, but I feel very weak. Have been trying to lay 
my cares at the foot of the Cross. 

Capt. Dyer has been very kind to me all the passage, and 
should I not live to return, I hope this fact will be remem- 
bered. 

Lat. 17° 20' S. Lon. 35° 9' W. 

Friday, August 24th. — Weather, warmer than yesterday. 
Breeze fairer, though lighter ; sea smoother. 

Laudanum and diet as usual, save a cup of coffee at break- 
fast to strengthen me a little, which did harm instead of good. 
Feel very weak and somewhat feverish. Heart, uneasy all 
day : new and strange sensations ; drawing, expanding, and 
a running from it, as of some liquid. Pain in chest and left 
arm also, severe. Cough more quiet, which I desire to be 
thankful for. 

Oh, how much more do I deserve than God has put upon 
me ! 

Lat. 19° 17' S. Lon. 36° 5' W. 

Saturday, August 25th. — Weather mild ; wind N., mo- 
derate ; sea smooth, sky clear, and all that. 

Laudanum and diet as usual. Cast up a small account 
just now, half past two P. M. ; but that's becoming a regular 
thing. 

This day I have salted : accordingly I feel weak and mi- 
serable. When shall I get home ? 

Lat. 20° 18' S. Lon. 37° 3' W. 

Sunday, August 26th. — Every thing as usual. 

Had a '■^ coup de soleil" (stroke of the sun,) this noon, 
which has prostrated me. 

Oh, God, have mercy upon me ! 

Lat. 21° 56 S. Lon. 38° 33' W. 

Monday, August 27th. — Weather, wind, etc. as usual. 

As to health, I have three regular vomiting bouts a day, 
and how can I be well ? — If we don't arrive at Rio soon, I 
shall ! 



46 PRIVATE JOURNAL. 

These bouts are at lOi A. M., at 3^P. M., and 7i P. M. Oh, 

God ! my punishment, just as it is, bears hard upon me. 

Oh, for that shady hill, South of our house, and a roll upon 
that grass ! Shall I ever see it again ? 

Lat. 22° 39' S. Lon. 40° 13' W. 

Tuesday, August 2Sth. — Wind, variable ;-weather, pretty 
warm ; we have doubled Cape Frio, and are now standing 
N. W. for Sugar Loaf. But, though sailing parallel to the 
Cape Frio shore, we cannot see it, (but can hear the surf break 
very plainly) on account of the thick haze. 

Laudanum, diet, cascading as usual ; which latter almost 
tears me to pieces : accordingly, I am very weak. I have, 
however, packed two trunks, cleaned go-ashore clothes, and 
done a world of work ; and am now debating about shaving. 

By Lat. made Cape Frio at 7 A. M. 

^ixty-four days from New- York ! 



LETTERS 
WRITTEN BY JOHN W. GOULD 

AFTER HIS ARRIVAL. 



Rio, August 29ih, 1838. Wednesday, P. M. 
Pr. Louisiana. 

Dear Edward, 
I have just time to say that we arrived here this afternoon, 
after sixty-tive days' passage. 

My health is, I think, no better ;* but I have no time to spe- 
cify. 1 will write more at large by a ship which sails on 
Sunday. 

I am received here with much kindness by every body, and 
am now at the counting-house of Mr. Brown, to whom I had 
a letter. 

Give my love to dear mother and Julia ; your wife, and all 
the family. 

Your afF't, brother. 

(Signature omitted.) 

Rio de Janeiro, \st Sept. 1838. 
Dear Edward, 
I came to sea for health, I believe ; and for the last six 
weeks at sea (of a nine weeks' passage) I suffered more pain 
and agony than in all my life besides. A constant cough, 
which for that time ceased not day or night, roused the 
disease in the heart, and the spasms were terrible and the 

* As, at the time this letter was received, we knew nothing of John's fate or 
his Journal, this expression to us was a mere comparison between the time of 
his sailing and arriving. 



48 LETTERS. 

pain constant : for six weeks and no medicine ! The cough 
was caught and refreshed nightly, because the draught 
down the companion-way blew right into my berth. I tried 
curtains ; they were suffocating. For all this, I had no medi- 
cine. Three bottles of the Doctor's mixture burst, the first 
week out ; and for the last five or six weeks, all the alkali I 
had was the charcoal of the galley pounded by the cabin-boy 
in a rag ; and consequently, my stomach was floating acid 
all the time. For the last fourteen or twenty days, soon or 
immediately after each meal, I would vomit half of it right 
up, and all this time was so weak, that I went on all-fours up 
and down the companion-way. On account of the cough and 
pain in my heart, I have been able for two months to lie only 
on my right side. 

This is a rough sketch ; I do not consider it accidental, but 
the just punishment for my sins, inflicted by my God and my 
Father ; and I endeavor to kiss the rod, and hope the afiiic- 
tion will be blest to me. 

On landing here, I was received with great kindness ; was 
shown to Johnson's Hotel, the best in Rio, where I have fine 
accommodations ; and a landlord and lady and waiters, who 
are all attention. 

I have consulted Dr. Coates, the best physician here, and 
he has prescribed for me, and I think I feel some benefit al- 
ready. He says my diseases are complicated, but not serious ; 
and he hopes to have me ready for sea in a month. 

Don't think I shall go home in the Iwanowna. I have 
offers of advances of cash to any amount, if I wish ; so you 
need not send me any : and I shall come crawling along home 
some of these days. 

Give my love to all the family : dear Mother in especial. 
My eyes, affected by my disease, are very weak. Shall write 
again soon. 

Your brother, 

Truly and affectionately, 

JOHN W. GOULD. 



JOURNAL RESUiMEU. 49 

The next communication from John, was a letter of advice 
of a draft on E. S. G. for one hundred and fifty dollars : written 
in the customary business form, in a strange (i. e. a third per- 
son's) hand, dated Rio de Janeiro, Sept. 13th, 1838, and sign- 
ed^ merely, by John. 

On that day he embarked (as appears by subsequent com- 
munications) on board the Brig Tweed, Capt. Robinson, in 
company with (as fellow-passengers) Isaac Mayo, Esq., Com. 
U. S. Navy, Wm. Henry Noland, Esq., Lieut. U. S. Navy, and 
Clement W. Bennet, Midshipman U. S. Navy. 

The Brig sailed on the day following, viz : Sept. 14th, 1838. 



John's Journal is now resumed and Jiiiished, as follows : 

September 20th, 1838. — I embarked on board the Brig 
Tweed, Capt. Robinson, on the 13th, and we left Rio the next 
morning, and now I am bound home, to my beloved mother's 
and sister's embraces. But oh, my mother, I fear I shall never 
see HOME again. Perhaps this may be the last I shall ever 
write. I have every comfort on board this vessel, and Capt. 
R. is so kind to me ! and Lieut. Noland of the Navy, 
tvho is a passenger, is very kind indeed. I am quite weak : 
my cough is terrible ; and the pain in the heart at times se- 
vere. 

September 24th. — Farev/ell dear mother, and sisters, and 
brothers. My end is approaching ; I can scarcely write. My 
head is dizzy. Bring me a light, George :* let me seal this. 
Ob, if God would only spare me to get home, I would always 
bless his name. 

(Signed) JOHN W. GOULD. 

* The Steward. 

7 



50 LETTERS, ETC. 

The leaf on which this was written, was doubled and seal- 
ed ; and on the other side, was directed, " Mrs. Sally McC 
Gould, Litchfield, Conn." 

On the 28th of September, John was informed by the 
passengers (which it is manifest he already knew) that 
he could not long survive. He then indited the following, 
from the ten our of which it is obvious that his mind was fast 
failing :— 

"The American Brig Tweed, of Balti- 
more — at sea, Rowland Robinson, 
master. Latitude, by observation, 12° 
18' South. Longitude, by chronome- 
ter, 33° 20' West. Sept. 28th, 1838. 

In the name of God, amen ! 

I, John W. Gould, born Nov. 5th, 1814, Litchfield, Connec- 
ticut, do ordain and make this my last will and testament, 
thereby revoking all others. 

Item 1st. — I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved sis- 
ter in the Lord, Julia Gould, the sum of five thousand dollars, 
on deposite in the Merchants' Bank, New- York, or in such 
other banks as I may have funds. 

Item, 2nd. — I give and bequeath to the American Bible So- 
ciety, Tract Society, and Foreign Mission Society, each, the 
sum of fifty dollars. 

Item, 2rd. — To Sally McCurdy Gould, my beloved mother, 
I give and bequeath a nation's blessing, and my best love and 
affection.* 

Item Ath. — To Edward S. Gould and Roger M. Sher- 
man, I give in trust to them any or all amounts that I may 
have inherited, recently, up to my demise." 

♦ This sentence from John, dying, and partially unconscious what he was 
Baying, is very affecting. 



LETTERS, ETC. 51 

" When the above was noted down, Mr. G. became exhaust- 
ed, and said he would finish it when he recovered a little ; 
but he rapidly grew worse ; and there was no connexion of 
words from that time, though he frequently called for his 
mother ; and 'tis my belief, as well as that of the undersigned 
gentlemen, that the property to be left in trust to Messrs. E. 
S. Gould and Roger M. Sherman was for the benefit of his 
mother. 

(Signed) I. MAYO, Commander, U. S. Navy. 
WM. HENRY NOLAND, Lieut. Do. 
CLEMENT W. BENNET, Mid. Do. 
R. ROBINSON, Master, Brig Tweed." 



As John was an entire stranger to these gentlemen pre- 
viously to their meeting on board the Tweed, or at Rio de 
Janeiro, they could not, of course, know that the sum of money 
specified in the Will was not possessed by him — and they 
were not therefore aware, it would seem, that the whole of that 
document was indited while his mind was unsettled and his 
senses wandering. 

Perhaps it is needless to say, that to each of these gentle- 
men (excepting midshipman Bennet, whose residence we are 
unable to ascertain) we have addressed letters expressive of 
our thanks and our gratitude. And, in doing so, we found — 
as all who read this will readily see — the total inadequacy of 
language to convey our feelings ; the total inadequacy of any 
thing to repay our obligation. 

The letters and remarks that now follow comprise all that 
can be added to John's brief memoirs. 



52 LETTERS, ETC. 

^' American Brig Ticeed, at sea : 

Lat. 4° 41' S. Lon. 35° 50' W. 

October 1st, 1838. 

Dear Madam, 

Your son, John W. Gould, embarked in. the Tweed at 
Rio, on the 13th Sept. : the next day she sailed for the United 
States. He was then very feeble ; and at the time he came on 
board, his recovery was despaired of by Dr. Coates, the most 
eminent physician at Bio. 

Mr. Gould gradually sunk till Sept. 28th, when it became 
evident that he could not survive many days. His fellow- 
passengers thought it proper that he should be made acquaint- 
ed with his situation, when he dictated the enclosed document, 
(the Will, on page 50.) 

He said he was " a member of the Episcopal Church, and, 
he hoped, a good one." He kept his bible and prayer-book in 
his berth with him, and frequently read them. He received 
every attention and kindness from all in the cabin. 

He continued to sink till October 1st, when he expired at 
eight o'clock A. M. respected and regretted by all on board. 

The weather being extremely hot, his body was committed 
to the deep — and our American flag half-masted — at one P. M. 
of the same day. I read the Episcopal (sea-burial) service. 

It will afford me much pleasure to answer any inquiries di- 
rected to me at my residence, Greshani, near Annapolis, Ma- 
ryland. 

I am, dear Madam, with sincere respect. 

Your obedient servant, 
I. MAYO, 
Commander U. S, Navy, 
To Mrs. S. M. a Gould. 



LETTERS, ETC. 53 

Washington {City), Dec. 2d, 1838. 

My Dear Sir, 

I received your very kind letter when on the eve of de- 
parture from my sister's residence in Ya. for this place, and 
hasten to answer it. 

You saythat your late brother made mention, in his Jour- 
nal, of my kindness to him. I can only say that I was not as 
attentive as I could have wished, for my own very indifferent 
health rendered me at times indolent and careless. 

While your brother was in Rio, he staid at Mr. Johnson's 
hotel, and there he had every kindness and attention shown 
him that could have been rendered to an invalid. The Gard- 
ners were constantly with him, and many of our officers call- 
ed to see him. 

Our Commodore* was also very kind to him, and it was 
through him that I first learned that he was to be a passenger 
home in the Brig Tweed. The Commodore had a cot made 
for him, and sent his barge, with Passed Midshipman Hunter, 
to brins: him and his bao;P:affe on board. 

I learned daily of his health through my friends, the Hun- 
ters ; and Mr. Hunter told me, previous to my seeing your 
brother, that Dr. Coates, his physician, had given it as his 
opinion that your brother could not possibly live to reach 
home, as his lungs were entirely gone : but I was agreeably 
surprised to find him looking so much better than I had been 
led to suppose ; and his chance of reaching home was, I 
thought, at least equal to my own. 

We left Rio on the morning of the 14th of September, when 
your dear brother and myself were first made acquainted ; an 
acquaintance which I enjoyed as much as any I had ever 
made previously : and would to God, it could have continued ! 
His amiable temper and kind manners rendered him dear to 
all in the vessel ; and I really believe that there was not an in- 
dividual on board who would not willingly have sacrificed all 
he had for your brother's recovery. 

♦ Commodore J. B. Njcolson, U. S. Navy. 



54 LETTERS, ETC. 

For a few days previous to his death, he became at times 
very delirious ; and he died under the belief that his mother 
was dead, and near him. In his intervals of reason he would 
say to me, " Oh, Noland ! I cannot live long : but I hope God 
will spare me to reach home, that I may die in my dear mo- 
ther's arms." He talked incessantly of his dear mother, and 
of each of his family, calling them by name ; and the words 
'• dear Edward," — " dear Julia," — were constantly on his lips ; 
and you may have the consolation of knowing that he died 
happy, for I believe he was a true Christian. He would fre- 
quently get me to read to him portions of Scripture, and he 
was often in prayer ; and he seemed to take great delight in 
trying to sing from his prayer-book (which was constantly at 
his side) even when his voice became too weak to be heard. 

I attended to laying him out after death, and we had him 
buried with the honors of war. 

The steward was a most faithful, kind and efficient 
nurse : indeed, 1 never witnessed anything like it before ; for, 
after attending to his day's duty, he would sit and watch by 
your brother all night, and could not be persuaded to take any 
rest. 

I have endeavored, my dear Sir, to give you a faithful re- 
cital of all that transpired previous to your brother's demise : 
but, could I see you, other things would probably occur to my 
mind that I in vain endeavor to summon up at this time ; and 
should I again be permitted to visit your city, I will with plea- 
sure avail myself of your very polite invitation to visit you. 

In the mean time accept, dear Sir, my kind regards for 
yourself and family, and believe me to be, 

Very respectfully and sincerely, 

Your obedient servant, 

WILLIAM H. NOLAND. 
To Edward S. Gould, Esq. N. Y. 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 55 

Since the foregoing' letter from Lieut. Noland was receiv- 
ed, the Iwanowna has returned to New- York. Captain Dyer 
informs us that John was not in any instance known to have 
raised or expectorated blood. He fully corroborates all that 
has been said about the very great attention and kindness that 
John received at Rio : Commodore Nicolson, in particular, 
and many other gentlemen there, of wealth and distinction, 
visited him daily. John walked out two or three times; but, 
by the advice of Dr. Coates, took very little exercise : he 
therefore confined himself principally to the Hotel where he 
lodged ; but was about the house most of the time, and appear- 
ed to be in good spirits, and gradually improving in health, 
Capt. Dyer accompanied him to the Brig when he embarked ; 
and as they came alongside, John, without assistance, seized 
the ladder-ropes, and mounted over the rail as if he were well. 
He little thought that when he next crossed that rail he would 
be swathed in his winding-sheet ! for his manner was so free, 
and his whole deportment so cheerful, that Capt. D. says it 
was evident, so far as sickness was concerned, John had no 
doubt about reaching home. Of course, Dr. Coates, with the 
best intentions, but with, nevertheless, mistaken kindness, de- 
ceived him entirely as to his actual situation. It was, how- 
ever, perfectly natural for the Doctor to pursue that course : he 
could know little of John's character, and probably supposed 
that the truth would have a prejudicial effect even on his 
health, bad as it was. This misapprehension of the true state 
of the case, on John's part, is plainly the reason of our having 
nothingyVow him relative to his short residence at Rio : and 
nothing further from him in regard to his last wishes and 
feelings, than is found in the few sad lines written on the 20th 
and 24th of September. Had he been earlier aware of his 
danger, he would not have left his thoughts at the approach 
of death, and his confident hope in the Redeemer's mercy, to 
be conjectured by his friends, or recorded by the hand of stran- 
gers. Those records are, indeed, most gratifying — those 
strangers were most kind : may God bless them for it ! — but 



56 CONCLUDING REMARKS, 

how different to us would be John's own words, penned on 
the threshold of eternity, and reaching- us, at this distance of 
time and space, as from the courts of Heaven ; telling us not 
to mourn his sufferings or his fate, but to rejoice, rather, in his 
exceeding joy ! reminding us that his conflict is over — his vic- 
tory won ! pointing out to us the loved ones who have gone 
before him, and, in the two-fold capacity of a dying brother 
and an ascending spirit, conjuring us not to neglect so great 
salvation ! 



OCCASIONAL WRITINGS 



THE HAUNTED BRIG, 

PUBLISHED IN THE NEW-YORK MIRROR, MAY 17tH, 1834. 



It was on a beautiful moonlijjht night, when we were in 
the tropics, as I was hard and fast in the lee of the launch, 
very busy sleeping, that my person was saluted, and my nap 
cut short by a kick from old Harry Wilson, one of our quar- 
termasters. " Haul your wind out of this," said he, " you've 
watched the cable about long enough ; heave and weigh. I 
don't care if I come to an anchor ;" and so saying, he took 
possession of my moorings ; but as he carried too many guns 
for me, there was nothing to be said, and I quietly submitted, 
and prevailed on him to spin a yarn. 

The scene was in complete keeping with the subject : the 
full, beautiful, tropical moon, shone in unclouded splendour, 
and old Ocean lay outstretched, basking in her effulgence, 
lulling himself to sleep with his own eternal anthem, " the 
moonlight music of the waves." 

Our ship, as beautiful a sloop-of-war as ever carried the 
stars and stripes to be worshipped and feared by distant lands, 
was quietly ploughing her way through the almost unruffled 
surface of the deep. The wind was fair, though light, and 
our immense folds of spotless canvass were spread before it, 
glistening in the moon-beams, and ever and anon crimsoned 
with the phosphoretic illumination of the ocean, so common 
in the tropics. 

Our decks were nearly silent ; the sailors lay around in 



60 THE HAUNTED BRIG. 

groups, dreaming, either sleeping or waking, of that happy 
home and all its endearments, to which we were rapidly has- 
tening ; for, delightful truth, the sloop-of-war was "homeward 
bound." Those " who live at home at ease," can form no es- 
timate of the delicious sensations caused by those two words, 
in the bosom of the poor sailor, far away on ,the deep. In 
cold or heat, in storm and tempest, " homeward bound" is the 
soother of all afflictions, the watchword of joy. The man at 
the wheel, when relieved, would say, " her course is North, 
Jack; homeward bound." Such was the state of things on 
our decks, when old Wilson, having taken a fresh quid, and 
worked up his reckoning, began liis yarn. 

" It's now going on thirty odd years since I one day drifted 
along down to Pine-street wharf, in New- York, and saw there 
a Baltimore-built brig, called the 'Rising Sun.' She was as 
neat and pretty a craft as an old tar would wish to clap eyes 
on — clinker built, black hull and painted ports, with long, 
heavy, raking masts and black yards — slie looked like a real 
clipper : thinks 1, that's the stuff for trowsers, so I shipped 
aboard of her, and the next day "we were at sea. 

"For the first week we had fair winds, and every thing 
went on regular, but after that there began to be the de- 
vil to pay, and no pitch hot. One night, when we were 
sailing along with just wind enough to give her steerage- 
way, crash went something aloft, and a man in the top hailed 
the first- niate ; * main-yard's carried away in the slings, sir.' 
^ Main-yard carried away V growled the mate, ' why, damn it, 
there is not a cap-full of wind aloft.' ' Main-yard carried 
away?' said the old man, sticking his head up the companion- 
way ; ' why, the devil's in the brig !' He was right ! the devil 
was in the brig, as we found to our sorrow. 

" We turned-to and slung the yard again, and got every 
thing snug, and went on our course, but we didn't feel easy ; 
arid one fellow begun to tell how he had heard in Philadel- 
phia of a brig called the Rising Sun, which was haunted ; 
but he didn't think, in New- York, that this was the one, and 



THE HAUNTED BRIO. 61 

80 had said nothiug. Well, we were talking and guessing 
about it, when this same fellow, Starboard Tom, sung out so 
sudden, that Vv'-eall jumped up as if the brig was a-fire. 'I 
say, shipmates,' says he, ' I'll tell you how we'll know if this 
is the same craft. That Philadelphia brig had a red spot on 
the deck of her fo'castle, as big as a man's head, close by the 
stanchion, amidships.' We all run down into the fo'castle, and 
there, sure enough, at the foot of the amidships-stanchion, was 
a dark-red spot — a spot of blood ! ' Tom,' says we, ' how 
came that there V ' Why,' says he, * I was told in Philadel- 
phia, that the crew mutinized at sea, two or three years ago, 
and when the captain came down into the fo'castle to see a 
sick man, one of the ringleaders killed him with an axe, and 
that spot is where his head struck when he fell. The crew 
robbed the brig and left her, and she was picked up by a 
States man-of-war and taken into Philadelphia, and lay a long 
time at the wharf, and nobody would ship in her. And I 
'spose, when the owners found they couldn't get any hands 
for her there, they sent her round to New-York, to man her, 
and so we're all sucked in !' I shall never forget how I felt 
that night. I a'n't afraid of any thing as long as I can see it ; 
but to be aboard a vessel that's haunted ! 1 can't stand that. 

" W^e went on for two or three days, expecting that some- 
thing more would happen, when one day, about dusk. Car- 
penter went down into the fo'castle, to get something out of 
his chest. He was a big, brave fellow, who didn't care for 
anything ; and had said all along, that he did not believe the 
brig was haunted at all. He had been down there but 
about five minutes, when we heard a little noise, as if a man 
was strangling and trying to call for help ; and the next 
thing, we heard a yell of agony, and Carpenter burst up 
the hatch ; his face all black, his throat black-and-blue, his 
mouth wide open, and his eyes starting out of his head ; and 
looking back, as if something was chasing him, he screamed 
out — ' Oh, God ! he's choking me,' and fell senseless on deck. 
Well, some run for one thing, and some for another ; and after 



62 THE HAUNTKD BRIG. 

working at him a long time, he came-to. When he was a 
little better, we asked him what was the matter. ' Why,' says 
he, trembling all over, ' when I had got what I wanted out 
of my chest, I turned into my berth, and, as 1 rolled over, I 
thought I heard something moving in the fo'castle, so I turned 
round to see who it was, when I was knocked back into my 
bunk, and I felt two hands choking me, though I could 
not see anything, and I tried to get away, but I could not 
stir ; but, just as I begun to give up, I felt something^ on 
my cheek, like a man's cold breath, and then the hands let go, 
and I sung out, and run on deck.' That was enough for us ; 
we all felt as if we were in hell. That night no one went 
into the fo'castle, but we all lay on deck, in the lee of the long 
boat. Starboard Tom had the first wheel, in the mid-watch, 
and all the rest of us lay asleep, forra'd. The second-mate 
had the deck, and was leaning over the weather-rail asleep, 
and the captain was below in the cabin. About three bells, 
Tom thought he saw something moving on the weather- 
gangway, walking fore and aft, like a man on watch ; but as 
it was dark, he could not make out what it was ; so he stood 
watching it, and as it grew plainer, it looked like a man 
dressed in white, and he was so scared, that when it was four 
bells, he did not dare to call his relief, but stood looking to see 
what would happen. About five bells, it disappeared, and 
Tom was getting ready to hail for his relief, when up came a 
man out of the cabin, dressed in white flannel-drawers and 
shirt, and a white nightcap, and Tom thought it was the 
skipper. It went to the weather-rail, and looked into the face 
of the second-mate, who was leaning there asleep, and stood 
so for five minutes. 

" •' Now,' thought Tom, ' stand by for squalls ; the old man 
is going to blow up the second-dickey, for being asleep on 
watch.' 

" Just as he thought so, the figure turned round, and walk- 
ed forra'd, and Tom stood looking after it, when suddenly the 



THE HAUNTED BRIG. 63 

real captain stuck his head up the companion way, and sung 
out, 

" ' Tom, how do you head, there V 

" ' Oh ! the ghost !' cried Tom, and fell down in a fit ; and 
we had to work at him a long time to bring him to. But 
things got quiet again, and the night passed off without any 
more disturbance. 

" The next day, about four bells in the forenoon watch, the 
captain called for Carpenter to bring a small chisel into the 
cabin, and ordered him to make two little holes in the pan- 
nels over the head of his berth. Now, I believe he had spo- 
ken to the ghost, and he had told him there was money hid 
there, and that was what he haunted the brig for. At any 
rate we had no more trouble with the ghost ; and as the cap- 
tain was a wide-awake devil for carrying sail, he cracked 
away on her, so that we made the river Plate in a fortnight. 
We discharged our cargo in Monte Video, and loaded again 
with hides and horns, and the fore-hold was stowed with 
horns. 

" We had been at Monte about six weeks, and were to sail 
in a day or two, when one day, towards dusk, I was down in 
the fo'castle, and as I lay in my bunk, I heard the horns in 
the hold rattle as if some one was tossing them about at a 
great rate. Now we had stowed them as tight as they would 
wedge^ and I thought the devil himself could not make them 
fetch away ; so I determined to see what the matter was. The 
next morning, when the hatches were taken off, I looked into 
the fore-hold, and there the horns were wedged just as we 
left them ! 

" That was enough for me, and 1 run away that day, and 
went a board a ship bound for New- York. Two days after, the 
Rising Sun sailed, and in a week we followed her. We had 
been out to sea about three weeks, and were just north of the 
line, when, one morning, a lookout aloft sung out, '■ Sail ho !' 
We bore down on the craft, and about noon we got within 
speaking distance. She was a brig, standing the same way 



64 THE HAtJNTED BRIG. 

we were, with all sail set, slun'sails on both sides, yet she did 
not make much way. 

" We hailed her, but she said nothing; we hailed again, 
but still she said not a word ; and we then saw that there were 
no men on her decks. So our captain spoke ; says he, ' They 
are all fast, keeping watch below ; we'll turn them out, before 
the brig falls overboard,' And he sent a boat to board her, 
and I was one of her crew. As soon as I got on her deck, I 
knew her. She was the Rising Sun 1 Every thing on deck 
looked right, and she was going regular enough before the 
wind, but there was no living thing to be seen. Jackets and 
shoes lay knocking about decks, as they always do. The 
people's chests were all in the fo'castle ; and the captain's 
dunnage was in the cabin, as if he had just been writing. 
Nothing was taken away, nor any thing left adrift ; every 
rope was belayed right, and coiled up regular, and the decks 
vlrere clear. The log-book lay open in the first-mate's state- 
room, and a pen, with ink in it, lay athwart it, and at the end 
of the last day's work (about a week before) was this — '• A 
strange man seen on the forecastle' — and then a mark, as if 
he had begun to write something else, 

" That was enough for us. We hauled off as quick as we 
could, and got aboard our own ship, and made sail to get away ; 
when suddenly, a tall, black man appeared on the fo'castle of 
the Rising Sun, walked slowly aft, and then went down into 
the cabm. The brig gave a heavy lurch to port, and went 
down head-fo'most : and so ended the voyages of the Haunted 
Brig. What became of her men, nobody knew ; they were 
never heard of to this day," 



OFF CAPE-HORN 

PUBLISHED IN THE NEW-YORK MIRROR, JUNE 7tH, 1834, 



It was about six bells in the first watch, one night, when 
we were off the pitch of the Horn, in the Pacific ocean, bound 
home, that the first-hiff came on deck to look at the weather j 
and, having taken his squint, he thought it was getting thick 
to windward. He consulted with the skipper, and between 
the pair of them they thought best to shorten sail 

Nothing above to'gallant sails were standing, as we had 
sent down our royal-masts, to come round the Horn ; so they 
were clewed up, and the order given — -' Lay aloft, fore-and- 
maintopmen of the watch, reef the foretopsail." As it was 
nearly a dead calm, and the ship had scarcely steerageway on 
her, I thought this was one way to do business ; but, as I 
knew very well that I had no business to think, because Cap- 
tain Frank was paid for doing the thinking for all hands of 
us, I clewed up my thinking-tacks, and stood at my station, 
the lee- wheel, to see that the ship did not fall overboard. 
Fore-and-maintopmen went aloft, and reefed the fore-topsail 
accordingly, and were laying down when Sam Stanley, in 
fleeting on the futtock-shroud, took hold of a ratlin, like a 
lubber ; it parted, and he came down by the run ; and as 
James Wilson, one of the fo'castlemen, was standing on the 
hammock-netting, he knocked him down upon deck, and him- 
self fell overboard. I heard, as being aft I could see nothing, 
a heavy fall on deck, and a plash in the water ; and the next 

9 



66 OFF CAPE-HORN. 

instant came the startling cry, " man overboard !" The first- 
lieutenant was luckily on deck, and instantly taking command, 
his coolness did the necessary, handsomely. 

'■' Life-buoy, there !" said he ; and before the words were 
out of his mouth, both the buoys, and fifty pounds of ward- 
room beef, which hung at the same davit, were in the water ; 
and so Sam Stanley had board and washing, and lodging into 
the bargain. "Lower avi^ay the larboard-quarter-boat!'' he 
continued, as calmly as if he had been netting a studding-sail. 
''Man weather-main and maintopsail braces ! Lower away 
third cutter !" 

The maintopsail was backed instantly, and the two boats 
manned and lowered ; but before they reached the water, a 
new trouble presented itself — the plugs could not be found, 
and without them the boats, of course, could not leave the 
ship, as they would fill and sink ; so there was an agonizing 
delay to search for them, which at this moment seemed an 
age. They were found in two or three minutes, and the boats 
at last left the ship, each having a midshipman and a lantern — 
the former /or a bother^ the latter /or use — and as it was dark, 
so that nothing could be seen, we waited anxiously to hear. 

In a minute or two we heard the officer of one of the boats 
sing out, " There he is, men ; pull away !" In an instant af- 
ter, he added, " D it, it's only a buoy !" And so it worked 

for more than an hour. At one moment, the mid would sing 
out that he had found him, and the next contradict himself; 
and on board, every thing was in an uproar; for a "man 
overboard," and that alone, will bring the watch below on 
deck without orders ; and we stood about in anxious suspense, 
our hopes being dashed as often as raised. At length, the 
search proving entirely fruitless, the boats were reluctantly 
recalled, and all the comfort they could give us was, that they 
had found one buoy. 

Wilson had, in the meantime, been picked up and placed 
under the surgeon's care, who now made report to the captain 
that his Lead was seriously injured by striking on a ring-bolt 



OFF CAPE-HORN. 67 

when he fell on deck, but that he was doing well. As it was 
nearly a calm, we lay with our maintopsail aback all night, 
hoping, that as one buoy was missing, Stanley might be on 
it, and that when daylight came we might see something 
of him or it, to change this dreadful uncertainty to a certainty 
of some kind ; and, in order that he, if ahve, might be aware 
of it, signal- lanterns wqre sent up to the mast-heads, and guns 
were fired every few minutes. Daylight at length began to 
appear, and it was hailed by us with an intensity of joy which, 
homeward-bound as we were, the sight of the highlands of 
Neversink would not have equalled. Look-outs were sent aloft 
by the dozen, to see if they could make out any thing. After 
a long and anxious survey of the ocean in every direction, 
the look-outs answered the oft-repeated hail of the first-lieu- 
tenant with the chilling declaration that nothing was in sight ! 
He turned away with an emotion which he did not attempt 
to conceal, and which did him honor ; and for an instant there 
was a dead silence fore-and-aft. The order was then reluct- 
antly given — " Lay down from aloft ; man the lee-braces" — 
and we braced up again and went on our course, giving Stan- 
ley up for lost. 

Just as the sun rose, the look-out on the foretopsail-yard 
hailed the officer of the deck, saying that he could see the 
other life-buoy in the sun's wake, and he believed there was 
something on it ! This news spread new life, and two boats 
were instantly lowered, to pull in that direction. Long and 
anxiously we watched them, and when they reached the buoy, 
anxiety amounted almost to agony, for Stanley was a first-rate 
sailor, and universally liked. When the boats came near 
enough for us to see their motions, the crews "rose and waved 
their hats, as if giving three cheers ; and in spite of the disci- 
pline of a man-of-war, the cheers were repeated by all hands, 
so heartily that the sloop-of-war trembled to her centre. They 
came alongside, and Stanley was brought over the gangway, 
evidently exhausted, but still alive ! As soon as he had been 



68 OFF CAPE-HORN. 

overhauled by the surgeon, and had freshened the nip with a 
stiff glass of grog, he came on deck to tell us about it. 

He said he got on the life-buoy the instant it struck the wa- 
ter, but being stunned by the fall, he could not hail the boats 
to show where he was, although they were sometimes so near 
as almost to touch the buoy with their oars. He said he heard 
every thing that was said and done, saw the lights we sent 
up, and knew that we were lying-to for him — that gave him 
some comfort ; and the wind being right aft, he had drift- 
ed the same way we had, and was a little ahead of us, "be- 
cause," said he, " while you were hove-to I was under wny." 

Now, Sam was, like most tars, given to making mistakes 
on the subject of property, and had " fisted" a good lot of 
other fellows' dunnage. So one of the luffs asked him — " Well, 
Stanley, what was you thinking about while you was on the 
buoy last nightj expecting to be used up by John Whale ?" 

" Why, sir," says Sam, giving the tafferel of his trowsers a 
hoist, " I was thinking who would pin the frocks and trow- 
sers I had stowed away aboard." 

It was now a dead calm, and the ocean exhibited a singu- 
lar phenomenon. There had been no gale recently'', nor any- 
thing else to cause a swell, and yet there was a tremendous 
sea on, and the ship rolled as if she would pitch the sticks out 
of her. The explanation of this circumstance is, that we 
were not above forty miles from Cape-Horn, and all this com- 
motion was caused by the meeting of the Atlantic and Pacific ; 
the contrary currents of these two mighty oceans were at war, 
and therefore "the deep lifted his hands on high." 

About four bells in the forenoon watch, the wind began to 
blow again from the north-west, and we made sail for the 
Horn ; and at seven bells the surgeon reported to the captain, 
that in consequence of some internal bruise, Wilson was much 
worse, and could not live the day out. This intelligence took 
very little hold of us, for it was a common thing, and no trick 
at all for men to die on board ; and accordingly it was little 
minded, and the conversation which followed this announce- 



OFF CAPE-HORN. 69 

ment in the mess-room of the forward officers, may be taken 
as a fair sample of sailors' feeling' on the subject. 

" There, Sails," said the boatswain to the sail-maker, point- 
ing to the sick-bay, " there will be a job for you, something to 
take the turns out of your fingers. Get your palm and nee- 
dle, and stand-by to sew that man up in his hamm.ock, and 
tell the gunner you want a couple of round shot for the use 
of the dispensary, to ballast one of tue doctor's chickens, and 
send him to Davy's locker, feet-foremost." 

" What's to pay, Pipes?'' answered t!ie sail-maker, coolly, 
" has the doctor hulled one of the poor fellows at last? or have 
his life-halliards parted at the tie ? Send him some ratlinstuflf, 
so that he can set up brace-backstays abaft, and cross his roy- 
al yards, and call all hands up anchor." 

"We sha'n't have to man the capstan for him," interposed 
the gunner, as he mixed a pannikin of grog, stiff enough to 
float grape-shot ; "we shall man the lee-gangway, and Old 
Pipes will call 'all hands to bury the dead.' " 

" 1 say, Mac," said the master's-mate to the purser's-steward, 
"how does Wilson's name stand on the books? You'll have 
to foot up his account shortly, and give him his discharge from 
the State's service ; he's going to ship under Commodore Da- 
vid Jones, aboard the ship Pacific, ten thousand guns, besides, 
stern and bow-chasers. His time is about out — he's done with 
rations and grog." 

"Well, I'll be d ," says Dandy- Jack the carpenter, "if 

you don't take it easy. Here's a man dying, and yoa make 
no more of it than I would of plugging a shot hole in the 
ship's upper works." 

" After action's over, Chips means," said the boatswain, 

" he'd take the best of d good care not to sling himself in a 

bowline over the ship's side to plug a shot-hole in time of ac- 
tion, for fear his own upper works would get knocked in with 
a round shot; for that would spoil the looks of his figure- 
head, and perhaps carry away iiis cutwater." 

" There, Chips," says the purser's steward, " you'd belter 



70 OFF CAPE-HORN. 

haul off, and repair damages. Old Pipes carries too many 
guns for yoii." 

" You be d ," said the carpenter, as he kicked over his 

camp-stool, and made a straight wake for the deck. 

And while these thoughtless men laughed, and made a 
mock of death and all its horrors, the poor object of their mirth 
lay in his cot, surrounded by the noise and confusion of a man- 
of-war ; silent and sad, knowing that he was beyond mortal 
aid ; reflecting that now the last scene of life was to be acted ; 
that nothing remained but to die. Come, when it may, the 
hour of death is one of awful trial, of deep, overwhelming 
solemnity; and nowhere is it more awful, more agonizing, 
than on board ship at sea, far away from home and friends, 
destitute of the arm of support, the word of consolation, and 
the voice of prayer : where the only mention of the name of 
God is in oaths and blasphemies. 

Would any one, accustomed, to the quiet of the apartment of 
the sick on shore, have thought, from the scenes presented to 
his view on the berth-deck of our ship, that a fellow-creature 
lay there at the point of death, cmd that every one was aware 
of it? 

Although there was, in the immediate vicinity of the sick- 
bay, some little attention paid by the sailors to the feelings 
of their sick shipmate, by lowering the voice and avoiding to 
touch his cot ; yet, in the crowded limits of the ship, none 
were so far distant that the sensitive ear of sickness could 
avoid hearing their loud, thoughtless discourse. In one place 
two men v/ere fighting, and their fearful curses and violent 
blows grated harshly on his ear, who was so soon to stand 
in the presence of that God whose name they profaned and 
whose wrath they invoked ; while he, with his fast-failing 
breath, besought His mercy. Others were laughing, and tell- 
ing stories, and enlarging upon the delights of home. That 
word had, but yesterday, been the theme of /a'5 joyful medita- 
tions. In health his joy, in sickness his consolation ; but both 
were now about to fail him ; and here, ten thousand miles 



OFF CAPE-HORN. 71 

from home, his life was to end. Three years before, in the 
ardour of youth, he left his happy home and dear friends, to 
enter the service of the United States ; and having now near- 
ly circumnavigated the world, he was returning on the wings 
of hope, to taste the sweets of a mother's and sister's love. But 
that bliss was not in store for him ; he was fast falling into the 
cold embrace of death, and was soon to be committed to the 
deep, and find his place of repose in the vast Pacific. 

Although amidst a multitude, he felt that he was alone, and 
recalling his thoughts from home, and all external objects, 
and commending himself, and all who were dear, to the care 
of Him who made the sea, and prepared the dry land, he 
waited patiently for death. Its coming was not long de- 
layed ; and at noon, in the heartless formalities of a man-of- 
war, the surgeon made his report to the captain, that "at twelve 
o'clock, meridian, died, in consequence of an internal contu- 
sion, caused by falling from the hammock-nettings upon the 
deck, James Wilson, seaman." The captain's reply was, as it 
always is, to all messages — " Very good, sir ;" and then the sail- 
maker, in presence of the assistant-surgeon and the master- 
at-arms, proceeded to sew him up in his hammock, and put- 
ting in two round shot at the feet to sink him, report was made 
that "the dead was ready for burial." 

It is not customary, however, to bury the dead at noon ; and 
therefore the body was brought on deck, laid on the lee-gang- 
way-board, and covered with a jack, (a blue flag, with white 
stars,) there to lie, until the rules of naval etiquette would al- 
low of its interment. Cape Horn was now in sight, and as we 
rapidly neared it, the wind. North-west, increased so much, 
that at seven bells, inthe afternoon watch, all hands were call- 
ed to reef the topsails; and, immediately after, the legal time, 
eight bells, having arrived, came the solemn call, "all hands 
to bury the dead." Every soul on board appeared on the lee- 
gangway, according to rule, and all standing uncovered, the 
lieutenant, acting as chaplain, commenced reading the solemn 
burial service of the Episcopal Church, appointed to be used 



7^ OFF CAPE-HORN. 

at sea ; and the gangway-board being placed on the rail, and 
the lashings cast off, and the jack withdrawn, it was ready to 
be cast into the sea. The wind had increased to such a de- 
gree that it drowned the voice of the reader, so that only here 
and there a word was audible, and the first-lieutenant waved 
his hand at the proper place in the service, and the corpse 
was launched overboard, and the sullen plash fell impressively 
on every ear, announcing that anoiher was gone to his long 
home. 

We were now abreast of the Horn, about a mile distant ; and 
although the wmd was North-west, the waves dashed against 
those eternal rocks, in defiance of it, throwing the foam moun- 
tains high ; and the loud roar of those conflicting oceans was 
a fitting requiem for the soul of him who slept beneath their 
troubled waters. The sim went down in the pride of his 
strength, and the full effulgence of his glory, and his depart- 
ing rays illumuied three of the noblest of the works of God : 
— the Atlantic ocean in front, the Pacific ocean on the right, 
and on the left, the bold promontory, Cape Horn, the " last of 
the Andes." 



A PORTUGUE BREAKFAST 

PUBLISHED IN THE NEW-YORK MIRROR, 

JULY 5tij, 1834. 



A PoRTUGUE breakfast ! it is an awful thing ! it is a terri- 
ble trial ! in short, it is a foretaste of starvation. 

Breakfast ! there is somethins: magical in the very word. 
It arouses our imaginations : it sends our fancy abroad to 
feast on buckwheat-cakes and molasses. With that word we 
associate all that is most dear in the fair (edible) creation ? 
Ham and eggs ; beefsteak, toast and butter, slapjacks and 

J but stop ; my lips grow moist at the thought, {vulgice, 

my mouth waters,) so I rein up and use the napkin. Break- 
fast, then, in the abstract, is sweet; in theory, delicious ; in 
the reality, transcendant ; but a Portugue breakfast — Oh I 
that is the devil. 

In a Yankee breakfast, there is a certain wherewithal — a 
something tangible — a quid pro quo ; but in a Portugue 
breakfast, there is neither " quid " nor any thing else. 

A Yankee breakfast is a solace to the soul, refreshing to the 
mind, invigorating to the physical frame ; in short, 'tis some- 
thing ; but a Portugue breakfast is teasing to the imagination, 
wounding to the heart, inconvenient to the inner man, trou- 
blesome to ourselves, bothersome to our neighbors ; briefly, 
'tis nothing^ or rather 'tis worse than nothing ; 'tis " all talk 
and no cider :" a " of a fuss, and nothing to eat." 

Calmly sunk old Ocean to rest, one sweet evening in Octo- 

10 



74 A PORTUGUE BREAKFAST. 

ber, 18 — , when we were in latitude 50° South, longitude 84"^ 
West, in the Pacific ocean. " Sweet," saith the preaclier, " is 
the sleep of the labourer :" argal, old Ocean took his comfort 
that night, anyhow. And 'twas fair he should, for, apart from 
former labours, he was to witness new troubles with the com- 
ing day. I say nothing of the gale that was to-blow, for that's 
a trifle — nor of the sea that rolled, for that's nothing (it did not 
breakover the fore-to'-gallan' yard) ; but in storm and tempest, 
he was to produce a t^ Portugue breakfast ^CB — to melt 
our hearts within us — to raise our hopes only to dash tiiem 
down ; to make us [vidgice) lick our chops, all for nothing. 

And yet, although such was the fearful future, no portents 
announced its coming. Sweetly did the vast Pacific glide into 
slumber — faintly came its evening hymn of praise upon my 
delighted ear, as I lay at length on deck, gazing in mute admi- 
ration upon its placid bosom ; the fountains of the deep rested 
from their labour ; the sea for once was caught napping. 
"What a field was here offered for the imtigination to range 
free and unconstrained — that vast sub-aqueous world lay open 
and inviting: here's at you, thinks I, and made a dive, (not 
literally, but figuratively,) and lying, as aforesaid, my thoughts 
instinctively recurred to former times, — to " years beyond the 
flood:' 

In that beautiful mirror of the Naiads, imagination traced 
the outlines of scenes and forms most dear ; the forms and 
faces of the loved ones upon earth — and as the illusion be- 
came stronger and more vivid, the heavy swell of the ocean 
imparted motion and life to those dear objects, and in the 
spirit, I was once more in my own land — the vast Pacific 
changed to a sweet lake of New-England, and those creations 
of fancy, to the reality — the wooded vales and delicious girls 
of old Connecticut. 

How blissful these dreams, and how agonizing to awake 
from such slumbers ; but, alas ! for the frailty of things hu- 
man. While I was capering away to old Connecticut in ima- 
gination, I was suddenly taken ail-aback, and my air-castles 



A PORTUGUE BREAKFAST. 75 

demolished from " turret to foundation-stone," by the hoarse 
summons of the boatswain, calling:, "All tlie starboard watch, 
'hoy." There ! the bubble was burst, and I was once more 
lying on the forecastle of the sloop-of-war in the Pacific ocean, 
latitude and longitude as aloresaid. 

The Pacific ! what a volume of thought is comprised in 
that word ! the Pacific ! it covers one third of the globe, and 
embosoms thousands of islands ; it washes the coast of Japan, 
gently kisses the spicy shores of the eastern Archipelago, mur- 
murs along the snowy beach of Panama, and breaks in thun- 
der aofainst the iron-bound coast of Patagonia. 

Bearing upon its bosom every variety of vessel, from the 
frail canoe of the savage to the line-of-battle-ship of the " queen 
of the seas ;" rippled by the light trade-winds of the tropics, 
and lashed into fury by the wild hurricanes of the polar cir- 
cles ; it is an ocean — ay, every i7ich of it. 

Blessed, also, are they who traverse its vast surface ; for, 
with the exception of now and then a norther, it is pacific ; 
else why this delightful calm in 50^ South latitude? It is a 
lovely ocean, it is the "calm summer's sea" of young ladies' 
albums, to a T ; it is a genuine personification of aqueous per- 
fection ; so tame is it, that old women could sail a ship upon 
it, with the help of a few marines ; in short, the Pacific is 
pleasanter with " all hands ahoy," than the Atlantic, with two 
watches in and duff for dinner. 

I say, shipmate, hast ever doubled the Horn ? if not, bring 
not thy petty experience of the pleasures of the indigo-blue 
of the Atlantic, into contest with the delights of the lio-ht blue 
Pacific. No matter how oft thou hast been nearly "chawed 
up" in the chops of the Channel ; no matter what may have 
been thy voyages up the Straits, or on tlie coast of Africa ; 
unless thou hast been round the Horn, lo ! and behold, again 
I write thee down an ass. Heave, and weigh. Top youT 
booms, and be off. 

Losing my way in these imaginings, I turn my thoughts 
towards the land I have just left, I hope for ever ; for grant, 



76 A PORTUGUB BREAKFAST. 

oh, ye salt-water deities, that I may never again double the 
Horn, and tread the soil of the republic of Chili ! 

Oh ! Valparaiso, thou art the " Vale of Paradise" — to those 
who like thee, but not to me. Thy " Tops" I abhor ; thy 
" Pullaperees" I despise. True, thy damsels are beauteous, 
but then they are shy as partridges. The Andes, covered with 
eternal snow and glistening in the morning sun, are splendid, 
but that is all I can say for Valpa ; so, as Peter Peebles would/ 
say, " Macer, call another cause." Rolling over at this junc- 
ture, my head came somewhat violently in contact with the 
fluke of the starboard anchor, my dreams were dispelled, and, 
as I gathered myself up, the quartermaster of the watch struck 
two bells, 

" Ah 1" thought I, " 'tis time to turn in ; or. as ladies ashore 
would say, time to retire." So with a long look to wind- 
ward, a yawn, and a stretch, this idle idler went below, and 
roiled into his hammock, stowing jacket in the after clue, hat 
and shoes in the forward one, and was fast, in the tossing of 
a marlin-spike. " Sweet," as aforesaid, " is the sleep of the 
laborer." I had been very busy, (sitting down ;) argal, I was 
a laborer ; argal; my sleep was Sweet. Q,. E. D. 

My dreams were, as all sailors' dreams are, about " sweet- 
hearts and wives." True it is that grog and soft tack came 
in too, but they were only accoaipauiments, or side-dishes in 
the feast. But, alas for the instabihty of dreams; they uni- 
versally stop in the wrong place. And so it was in this in- 
stance ; for, as I had almost reached the kissing part, my bliss 
was prevented by the call of the master-at-arms ; it being four 
bells in the morning watch, 

" On deck, on deck, all you idlers, turn out ; d'ye hear." 

"Oh !" says I, " I wish you were in five hundred fathom 
blue water, for your pains. Why couldn't you wait five mi- 
nutes, till I had finished the kissing, and then I would have 
turned out, satisfied." But all this grumbling was of no 
avail ; the mischief was done ; and, hoping " better times," 
I awoke to my present situation. 



A PORTUGUE BREAKFAST. 77 

When my eyes were thoroughly rubbed, and my senses col- 
/ected, I perceived, by the roll of the ship and the noise on 
deck, that we had a gale of wind to comfort us withal ; and, 
rolling carelessly out of my hammock, I soused into some- 
thing less than a fathom of water, with which moist fluid I 
found the berth-deck was all afloat ; ('twas about time to find 
it out when 1 was half drowned !) so I jumped upon a mess- 
chest, to finish my toilet ; for we sea-dogs have, after all, no 
especial desire for the personal acquaintance of salt water, and 
are as careful about a ducking as any lady in the States, This 
job was worse than slushing a royal-mast in a topsail-breeze, 
for I had to hold my clothes with one hand, myself with ano- 
ther, and put on my traps with the third ; so I had to work 
all sorts of traverses, from Tom Cox's down to Jemmy Duck's; 
and, when the ship relied heavil}^, it was no fool of a trick to 
avoid fetching away to leeward, let alone dressing ; so I pufi"- 
ed and blew like a grampus in the North Sea, and after 
knocking about a long time, succeeded in arraying my lovely 
person. Now, the next move was to get on deck ; and that, 
too, required all my skill in navigation. First, I was to avoid 
getting my pretty feet wet. Secondly, I was to mind the 
" weather-roll," lest I should fetch away to leeward, and break 
all my bones, and get well soused into the bargain. Thirdly, 
and especially, 1 was to avoid running afoul of any fellow's 
hammock, and awaking him ; for one sleeping Jack roused, is 
worse to deal with than half a dozen liong rampant. <' You 
son of a gun," he would say, suiting the gesture to the word, 
and forthwith I should be among the " killed, wounded, and 
missing." 

So I took an observation, and made sail according to Gun- 
ter, and after lots of trouble and a dozen hair-breadth escapes, 
I finally reached the deck. Here the prospect was quite charm- 
ing. Close-reefed fore and maintopsails, foresail, and storm 
and middle staysails, and fore-and-main-spencers, were all the 
sail we could show, and the water walked over decks fore and 



78 A PORTUGUE BREAKFAST. 

aft, and the wind blew — whew — w — w — w ! how it blew ; 
'twoujd take two men to hold the officer of the deck's jacket 
on. " This is rare sport," thinks I, as I hove to under the lee 
of the launch, to consider the probabilities of a ducking. 

"Come, you bloody sojjer," says an old maintop-man, "you 
bone-polisher, you dog's enemy, slue yourself, take a round 
turn and belay. Be off with yourself ! What are you doing 
on deck here ? Show leg, or I'll capsize you down the hatch 
by the run." 

As nothing makes old tars so angry as to see an idler on 
deck in a gale, I concluded to haul my wind while the play 
was good ; so I prudently made my descent by the walk, in- 
stead of the run. 

Alas ! what a scene the berth-deck then presented to view. 
In the lee-scuppers the water was about two feet deep, and the 
" master-at arms," and his gang, with trowsers rolled up, shoes 
and jackets off, were baling it up in buckets, and passing them 
up the main-hatch. A number of fellows had turned in, on 
deck, the night before, it being so pleasant that they did not 
expect any bother; now, their beds were floating jollily about, 
well soaked, while they lay on their mess chosts, watching the 
" winding-way" of their " sleeping-bags ;" wet and shivering, 
and swearing to keep themselves warm. 

How they must have felt, on awakening, to find themselves 
sailing about the berth-deck at ten knots an hour ! 'Tvvould 
have made a saint laugh to take one look at them. At any 
rate I laughed till I cried, and came near getting my top- 
lights stove-in for my ill-timed merriment. 

But I laughed out of the other corner when I came to see 
the state of the mess-room, in which I was steward's deputy. 
It was all afloat, books and instruments knocking about the 
deck, camp-stools adrift : hats, shoes, jackets, candlesticks and 
candles lying about in " most admired disorder," and all well 
moistened. The first sound I heard from those depths pro- 
found, as I rolled aft, was a good fat expletive from the lips of 



A PORTUGUE BREAKFAST. 79 

my master Tom, the steward, as he surveyed the state of the 
nation ; and next, by way of accompaniment obligato, came 
a grunt from the steerage. 

Now, Shutty, our dandy carpenter, had managed to be on 
the "Ust," ever since leaving Valparaiso, rightly judging, that 
as he was good for nothing aboard, (only live lumber,) he 
might be sick as well as not, and so he had hung himself up in 
his cot in the steerage, for all the world like an '' entire swine ;" 
therefore a grunt especially beseemed him^ and as his cot 
brought up every moment in mid-volley against the mess- 
room bulkhead, he gave utterance to a direful one. 

He got but little pity from us, however, for we all knew he 
was not burdened with understanding; the only thing in his 
favour being his personal appearance, which, with the extra 
care he took of it and his whiskers, obtained for him the sig- 
nificant appellation of "dandy Jack." 

Tom and I turned to, to clear up the mess, picked up the 
dunnage and baled out the water, and then overhauled the 
lockers to get some grub for breakfast ; and while we were 
thus engaged, it came into Shutty's little head that he wanted 
a little attendance ; so he hailed — " Tom !" — no answer. 
" Ton:i ! !" — no answer ; we were too busy to mind him. 
" Jack !" instrain da-capo. I was deaf all of a sudden, " Tom ! 
Jack ! !" he roared, out of all patience ; we made a great clat- 
ter, and gave no reply. " D n the pair of you," he added 

with emphasis, " I'll report you to the officer of the deck if 
you don't answer. Tom, here !" 

" Speak to me, Mr. S. ?" said Tom, lifting up his head, as 
if he had just awakened. 

" Yes, d n you," he gasped in reply, " come here." 

" Ay, ay, sir," says Tom ; but took the best of good care 
not to go near him. 

After a while, when I got ready, I went to him, and asked 
very innocently — " Want me, Mr. S. ?" 

" Yes, you scoundrel, why didn't you come half an hour 
ago ?" 



80 A PORTIIGUE BREAKFAST. 

" Did you call, sir? I'm a little deaf in my starboard ear." 

" Yes, you know I did," he said, sinking back exhausted ; 
" are all Yankees such d d fools as you are ?" 

" Yes, sir," says I, " every man of them just such fellows as 
I am. We don't keep any Staten Islanders, (Chips was from 
Staten Island,) in old Connecticut, they don't know enough," 
and leaving him thunderstruck at my impudence, I went 
whistling off " for lack of thought." 

At seven bells, having cleared decks for action, I proceeded 
to place the " equipage " on the table for the breakfast. As 
nothing could stand in safety on the table, it was, of course, 
no place for crockery, so our "service" consisted of five tin 
cups, and an equal number of knives ; forks being entirely out 
of the question in a gale of wind. We then opened the pro- 
vision-locker, made the door fast, and brought down the coffee, 
with which, and soft tack, they might make their breakfast as 
best they could ; and, being errand-boy, I made report to the 
caterer, " breakfast ready, sir." 

One by one the mess rolled along in, and came to anchor, 
some on the lockers and some on camp-stools. " What's allow- 
ance ?" hailed the sailmaker, as he stood outside, debating 
whether to venture in. 

Ratlines fried in tar," answered the boatswain, " stewed 
cat-harpen legs, and iron-bound biscuit." 

"That isn't solid enough," replied Sails, "I want some 
salt-pork, to put next my kelson, so that I can carry sail." 

" Make a strait wake for the harness-cask, then," says old 
Pipes, " and take a couple of fathom of salt-junk for ballast, 
and batten it down with hard tack." 

" Here, Jack," said the gunner, holding out his tin pot, 
" capsize some of that coffee in here." 

I took up the tea-kettle containing the boiling hot coffee, 
and bracing myself with one foot against the bulkhead, and 
the other against the lockers, I began to pour ; and after spil- 
ling less than a quart, I succeeded in getting the spou^ into the 
cup, and was going on well, when the ship pitched bows un- 



A PORTUGUE BREAKFAST. 81 

der, and the gunner, campstool and cup rolled down to leeward, 
the boiling coffee making a clear breach over him. 

" There," sung out Shutty, " you might have known that 

d d Yankee would catch a crab. Try Tom, he knows a 

little something." 

" He's got the weather-gage oiyoii, then," thinks I. 

" Pretty well done, gunner," said the boatswain, "for you to 
be rolling about decks before grog-time; you'd better work 
that traverse over again." 

" Well," said the gunner, as he gathered himself up, " I was 
hove keel-out that time, anyhow." 

"Here's luck to all of us," said the purser's steward, as he 
raised his cup of coffee to his mouth : the ship pitched heavily, 
and the hot fluid dashed over his face and bosom. 

" There," says the gunner, delighted, " you've got some 
luck, anyhow. Hope you'll grow fat on it ; that comes of 
laughing at other people when they are taken aback." 

" The gunner can't get his back out of his head, since his 
capsize," said the master's mate ; " I guess it chafed a little, 
when he followed the plank." 

" If he once got it stowed there," said the boatswain, " I 
should think it would be hard to break bulk, without breaking 
back ; I don't wonder it fetches him up with a round turn. I 
say, gunner, call all hands, clear launch, and shift yourself 
end for end." 

" Look here, Pipes," said the gunner, " didn't you swallow 
a marlinspike this morning? you are getting as sharp as a 
down-east fore-and-after. Which way does the ship head in 
an Irishman's hurricane, with the helm hard amidships, and 
jib-sheet's the tiller?" 

" Why," says the boatswain, " if the wind's abeam, she'll 
head between the night-heads ; and if it's right aft, South-West 
by North, a little Easterly." 

As all hands of us were now pretty jolly, Tom thought he'd 
play Chips a pliskie, so he carried him a cup of coffee, and 
giving it, he held the cot up to windward, till the ship was 

11 



82 A PORTUGUE BREAKFAST. 

nearly on her beam-ends, then suddenly letting go, it swung 
down, and brought up against the bulkhead with such vim, 
that the carpenter, coffee and all, underwent a regular cap- 
size. 

« D-— — n !" said Chips, throwing the empty cup at his 
head, amid the laughter of the whole mess ; for they thought, 
as we did, that all Shutty was good for, was to do the grunt- 
ing, and " keep bread from spoiling ;" so he was fair game. 

But why enlarge upon this hveakfast, which broke bones 
also ? Let it suffice, thee, shipmate, it was a regular-built, 
Portugue breakfast : " a — — of a fuss, and nothing to eat !" 



THE CAPTURE OF THE FRIGATE 
PRESIDENT, 

PUBLISHED IN THE NEW-YORK MIRRORj 

AUGUST 9th, 1834. 



The jawing-bell of the mid-watch was out, the lieutenant 
of the deck was half asleep, and the reefers of the watch alto- 
gether so, stowed away snugly. The wind was on the star- 
board quarter, blowing six knots ; fore and maintopmast stu'n'- 
sails on her, the last inch of the weather-braces hauled in and 
belayed, and every thing snug; 

For lack of better employment, I was cruising about decks 
on a wind, when I fell in with a knot of old tars on the to'- 
gallan'fo'-castle. '•' Yo, hoy, fo'-castlemen," says I, as I came 
to anchor on the heel of the bowsprit ; " how do you fight 
your guns ? Bob O'Neal, you are boatswain's-mate-of-the- 
watch, slue yourself, and spin a yarn." 

Bob wanted no better fun, so, without wasting breath in 
lubberly parley, he began : 

" On the 15th of January, 1815, at four bells in the fore- 
noon-watch the boatswain called, ' All hands, up anchor,' on 
board the President frigate. Commodore Decatur, then lying 
in New- York harbor, off the Battery. 

" We walked it up in the turning of an hour-glass, and 
dropped down the bay, the wind at Nor'- west, and came to an 
anchor in the Horse-shoe. 



84 THE CAPTURE OF THE FRIGATE PRESIDENT. 

"Now, it was high water on the bar, at a quarter past nine 
that evening; but Decatur, for some reason v;hich nobody 
ever knew, called all hands, up anchor, at four bells, in the 
first dog-watch. As soon as the pilot heard the order, he 
went to Decatur ; ' Commodore,' says he, ' the ship cannot go 
over the bar till high- water.' 

" ' She must go. Sir,' says Decatur. 

" ' It's impossible. Sir,' says the pilot. 

" ' Drive her over,' says the commodore. 

" That settled the business, and we weighed anchor; but it 
blew such a gale o' wind, that the only sail we set was a 
double-reefed foretopsail, and so stood out for the Hook. 

" When the ship was about twice her length from the bar, 
the pilot went to Decatur again. ' Commodore Decatur,' says 
he, ' the ship cannot go over the bar ; it's an impossibility. 
She'll strike, and thump to pieces.' 

" ' Well, Sir,' says Decatur, ' if that's the case, let go the an- 
chor.' 

" So we let go the larboard-bower, and veered away cable 
enough to bring her to. The t-hip swung round by the an- 
chor, and her stern struck on the bar. 

" ' Cut away the cable !' says Decatur. 

u Yle had hemp-cables in those days, and a few blows with 
an axe cat it away, and we swung round, and struck broad- 
side on the bar, and there she thumped. 

'" Then it was ' Down topgallant and royal yards !' and, as I 
was captain of the maintop, I was expected to show a lead. 

"So we lay aloft, but could not get any higher than the 
tops ; for when the ship struck, which she did every minute, 
it was all we could do to hold on, let alone sendintr down yards ; 
and, for the same reason, the foretopsail had not been furled, 
and so it was flapping as if it would carry away the yard. So 
we lay and thumped on the bar till high water, and then she 
floated. 

"'Now, Sir,' says Decatur to the pilot, Hake me back to 
New- York.' 



THE CAPTURE OP THE FRIGATE PRESIDENT. 85 

" 'It is impossible, Sir,' says the pilot, 'it is blowing a gale 
o' wind from the North-West, and no ship that ever floated 
could beat up aga nst it.' 

" So there was nothing to be done but to go to sea ; and, as 
the wind had moderated a little, we made sail on her and stood 
out, and as we knew the English fleet was watching for us, 
we doused every light, except the binnacle-lamps, and kept very 
still ; for, as it was very dark, we did not know how near we 
might be to them, and so, with every thing she could stagger 
under, we were off", South-East-by-East. 

" About seven bells, in the mid- watch, a blue light was burnt 
by the English admiral's ship, and was repeated by all the 
ships of his squadron, to show him where they were. 

" They were all around us, and, to avoid them, we hauled 
close on the wind, boarded our larboard-tacks, and stood in 
for the Long-Island shore. 

- " When daylight came, we found the English fleet still 
all around us. The Tenedos, frigate, was on our starboard- 
bow ; the Pomone, frigate, on the larboard-bow; the Endy- 
mion, frigate, right ahead ; the Despatch^ brig, clear out to sea, 
ahead, and the Majestic, seventy-four, astern. 

" We could not stand all that ; so we up helm, and bore 
away to the South'ardand E st'ard, and, setting a foretopmast 
stu'n'-sail, although it blew a gale of wind, we left Johnny 
Bull to take care of himself; and, in two hours, the Endymion 
was the only ship within ten miles of us. 

" But then the wind began to ease off, and, though we 
crowded all sail, the Endymion began to gain upon us. She 
was the fastest sailer in the English fleet, and v^/ns kept light 
and in complete sailing trim. She drew her provisions from 
the other ships, and was, of course, only in ballast ; while we 
had on board six months and thirteen days' provision, beside 
stores of all kinds, and were very heavy with shot, and to add 
to all this weight, we had knocked our false-keel to pieces on 
the bar ; some of it was gone, and the rest stood ath wart-ships, 
and hindered our sailing very much. 



86 THE CAPTURE OP THE FRIGATE PRESIDENT. 

"Well, the Endymion kept on, gaining on us, and came on 
hand-over-fist ; so, the Commodore gave orders to lighten 
the ship. First and foremost we threw over all the provision, 
except ten days' allowance, but the wind still easing off, the 
Endymion still gained on us ; so we threw over the boats, 
spare rigging and spars, then the anchors, and cutting the ca- 
bles into lengths of five or six fathoms, so that they would be 
of no use to any one, we sent them overboard too, and every 
thing else, except our fighting-traps. In spite of all we could 
do, the Endymion still gained on us, and it was very plain she 
would overtake us. So, at six bells, in the afternoon watch, 
when she was about four miles astern. Commodore Decatur 
called all hands aft. 

*' ' Now, my lads,' says he, ' the Endymion will overtake us, 
and we can't help it ; but when she comes alongside, I want 
you to give her one broadside, double-shotted, and then every 
man and boy in the ship must board her ; and we will take 
her, and go oflf in her, (for she is the fastest ship in the En- 
glish squadron,) and leave the President where she is. No 
man must leave the ship till you see me mount the hammock- 
nettings, and then will you follow me?' 

" ' Ay, ay, Sir, we will do that,' says we. and gave him three 
cheers. 

" By this time the Endymion was within three miles of us, 
and, training one of her bow-chasers on us, she let drive; but 
the shot fell short, about twice the ship's length ; so we tried 
her with our stern-chasers, to do her some hurt, if possible, 
and help us along ; but our shot fell short, too, 

" At two bells, in the first dog-watch, the Endymion's shot 
overreached us, (she was within a mile of us,) and shot told 
well on both sides ; but the Tenedos and Pomone came up so 
fast, that we saw we could not get away. 

" ' Now, my boys,' said Decatur, ' we must surrender ; but I 
want you to unrig the Endymion, for me, first. Will you 
doit?' 

" ' Ay, ay, Sir,' says we, and cheered him again. 



THE CAPTURE OP THE FRIGATE PRESIDENT. 87 

" Just at this minute a shot from the Endymion carried 
away our wheel, and killed the quartermaster-at-the-cun and 
three men. The ship broached-to, and then the drums beat to 
quarters, we manned our starboard-battery, and in seventeen 
minutes the Endymion was a wreck ; the only spar standing 
was about eighteen feet of her foremast. 

" All this time, Decatur stood on the spar-deck with his 
speaking-trumpet, singing out, * Don't overshot your guns, my 
brave boys ; don't overshot your guns.' 

"He was afraid the guns would burst, as they grew hot, if 
we overshotted them ; but his advice did no good. We put 
three round shot into each gun, and as the Endymion was 
only about fifty feet from us, you may know how the shot 
told. The Endymion, of course, would not strike to us when 
the rest of their squadron was so near, and so we continued 
the battle ; but as it was now too dark to fight by the flag, we 
sent up a light, and they did the same. About this time our 
saiUng-master went to Commodore Decatur, and told him he 
was wounded, and must g.) below. 

" ' Where's your wound, Sir ?" says Decatur. 

" So he showed him the middle finger of his left hand, which 
was a little cut. 

" * For heaven's sake, Sir,' says Decatur, ' don't mind that. 
Look at that deck, Sir,' (the first, fourth, and fifth lieutenants 
were dead, or mortally wounded, and thirty men lay on deck 
in the same condition ;) 'don't think oi going below now. Sir.' 

" ' Well, Sir,' says he, ' I'll go below and get it dressed, and 
come on deck again ; but, when he got below, he somehow 
forgot to come back. 

" So Decatur sung out for Lieutenant Gallagher, (the third 
lieutenant,) to take the trumpet ; but Robinson, a volunteer, 
who is now in the Havre line, hearing his hail, came up from 
the gun-deck. ' Commodore Decatur,' says he, ' I am only a 
volunteer, but if I can be of any use to you, you may com- 
mand my services.' 



88 THE CAPTURE OF THE FRIGATE PRESIDENT. 

"'Much obliged to you, Sir,' says Decatur ; ' take the trum- 
pet. Sir.' 

" So Rohinson took the deck. By this time the Endymion 
had dropped astern, but the Tenedos was on our larboard- 
bow, and the Pomone on our starboard-quarter. 

" 'Now, Commodore Decatur,' says Robinson, 'I wish you 
would sink that Tenedos, and then the Majestic will sink us, 
and we'll all go down together; for our larboard-guns are 
shotted, and one broadside will send her straight to the bot- 
tom.' 

" '■ No, Sir,' says Decatur, ' I will not throw away the lives 
of my brave fellows so. Now, go below, my lads, we must 
surrender ; and you want refreshment ; so, go below.' 

" We turned-to, and threw all our muskets, pistols, cutlass- 
es, boarding-spikes, and every thing overboard ; and cutting 
loose both batteries, we went down to the berth-deck to get 
something to eat and drink, for we had touched notiiing since 
we left the Hook, and had not slept a minute, eith t. I was 
going along fnrrard on the berth-deck, when I stumbled over 
a dead marine, and as I was getting up, I found two bottles of 
devilish fine wine; for the Commodore had ordered his stores 
to be given to the sailors, and that was the reason I found this 
wine knocking about the deck. Just as I got upon my feet, 
one of the topmen, named Harry Brown, came along, whose 
scalp had been torn tip by a musket ball, and hung over his 
face, so that he could not see. So I gave him. one bottle of 
the wine, and it did him a great deal of good; but he was 
down-hearted, and thought he should die ; so he told me to 
take a large gold chain, which he wore, and give it to his 
wife, when I got home ; and I did so, and kept it in spite of 
the English thieves, and gave it to her according to orders. 
When we went below, Decatur took his trumpet, and went 
forward on the fo'castle, and standing on the larboard cathead, 
he hailed the Tenedos. 

" ' I have surrendered, Sir ;' they pretended not to hear him, 
and let drive a whole broadside into us. 



THE CAPTURE OF THE FRIGATE PRESIDENT. 89 

" * I have surrendered, Sir ;' says Decatur, again. 

" ' To whom V says the Tenedos. 

" 'jTo the squadron, Sir,' says Decatur ; for he was too 
proud to say he had surrendered to any one ship. 

" Bang ! came another broadside from the Tenedos. Now, 
when they fired this second broadside, the first lieutenant, 
with other officers and a boat's crew, had just boarded us 
from the Pomona, which lay on our starboard-quarter, close 
aboard of us ; and the shot from the Tenedos killed two offi- 
cers and five men on board the Pomone. So the first-lieu- 
tenant of the Pomone run forrard, and hailed the Tenedos : 

'• < Cease firing. Sir !' says he ; ' his Britannic majesty's ofii- 
cers are aboard. Sir.' 

" Then the Tenedos stopped firing, and the Englishmen 
boarded us by the hundred, and in five minutes there were 
four hundred of them aboard, in spite of the tremendous sea 
and the gale of wind. Then they had their hands full, for all 
our guns were cruising about decks, rolling with the roll of 
the ship in every direction. It was as much as a man's life 
was worth to be on our main-gundeck then ; for if a long 
thirty-two pounder had rolled over a fellow, he would be about 
used-up ; and so the Englishmen danced and swore a good 
deal, when they came to secure the batteries again, and wanted 
us to lend them a hand, but devil a bit would we do ; so they 
had the fun all to themselves. After they had got every thing 
snug again, they took half of us, and sent us aboard the Te- 
nedos ; and as it was now near four bells, in the first watch, 
they stowed us away in the fore-hold, in double irons, to keep 
us safe till morning. 

" Then it was, ' down all boats, and search for the Endy- 
mion ;' for she had dropped so far a-stern that they did not 
know where she was ; but at last they found her, and towed 
her up as the wind lulled, and when we were taken out of the 
hold in the morning, she was alongside, 

" Well, they took us on deck, and stowed us away on the 

12 



90 THE CAPTURE OF THE FRIGATE PRESIDENT. 

booms, amidships, in double-irons ; and the whole guard of 
marines under arms, standing sentry over us. 

" Now, we had had but little to eat or drink for nearly 
two da^'-s, and were almost dead with hunger and thirst, and I 
determined to ask for something, come what would ; so I spoke 
to the sergeant of the guard. 

" ' Sergeant,' says I, ' will you allow a prisoner to speak to 
you?' 

" 'It is contrary to orders,' says he, 'but say on.' 

" So I told him how it was with us, and begged him to ask 
the officer of the deck for something for us. He went to the 
lieutenant, and told him that the prisoners wanted some wa- 
iter. 

" 'Who asked you V says the lieutenant. 

" ' One of the men. Sir,' says the sergeant. 

" ' Send him to me,' sa^^-s the lieutenant. 

" The sergeant came forrard : ' Where's the man who spoke 
to me for water V 

" ' I'm the man,' says I. 

'' So he knocked off my feet-irons, and I went aft to the 
lieutenant. He was the only officer aboard, all the rest being 
aboard the President, and a devilish smart fellow he was, too. 
So I told him how it was, that we were suffering for water, 
and begged him to give us a little. 

" ' What's your name ?' says he. 

" ' Robert O'Neal, Sir,' says I. 

" ' An Irishman !' says he, ' by heaven, I'll hang you !' 

" ' Well, Sir,' says I, 'will you please to give us a little water T 

"So he sung out for the master's-mate of the hold, and told 
him to give me four ten-gallon casks of water, and a couple of 
bags of bread. I took it, and served it out to our men, but they 
jumped at it as if they were mad. and acted more like wild 
beasts than men ; and drank all the water, and took all the 
bread so quick, that I could not get any myself Then the 
lieutenant sent for me. 

" ' Well,' says he, ' how did you make out V 



THE CAPTURE OF THE FRIGATE PRESIDENT. 91 

" ' But poorly myself, Sir,' says I, ' the men took it all, and 
I had none left.' 

" ' Well,' says he, ' sit down on that carronade-slidej my 
man, and I'll see what I can do for you.' 

" It was now about his dinner-time, three-bells in the after- 
noon watch, and he went down to his dinner, and sent up to 
me a piece of fresh beef and potatoes, and every thing I want- 
ed, and I made a devilish good dinner. Pretty soon he came 
up from below. 

" ' Well, my lad,' says he, ' how did you make out V 

" ' Very well, Sir, and much obliged to you, Sir,' says I ; 
' there's only one thing wanting.' 

" ' What's that V says he. 

" 'A little grog, if you please. Sir,' says I. 

" ' Well,' says he, ' I'll be d — if you are not a whole-souled 
fellow. You shall have sonie grog, anyhow.' 

" So he wrote an order on the purser's steward for half-a-pint 
of grog, and gave it to me, and told me to go and get it ; ancJ 
I went below and got it, and then I was all right. When 1 
came on deck, he made me come aft to him, and talked to mc 
a long while. 

" Well, that afternoon they sent all hands of us aboard of 
the Endymion ; and stowed half of us in the fore-hold and the 
rest on the main-gundeck, amidships, in irons ; and, as she 
had jury-masts rigged, they all bore away for Bermuda. 

" Now the Endymion was still the fastest ship in the squad- 
ron, and not being very full manned, we agreed to rise and 
take her, and bear away for some port in the States ; and we 
had it all arranged, and in three minutes more the ship would 
have been our own, when the main-jurymast went by the 
board and dished all our plans. In a couple of days we made 
Bermuda, and there we were landed and marched through the 
town; and a set of such looking fellows no man ever saw. 
We had not been shaved for so long a time that we looked 
like bears ; water was no shipmate of ours ^ and, as the Eng- 
lish thieves had stolen every thing we had, the clothes that 



92 THE CAPTURE OP THE FRIGATE PRESIDENT. 

we wore were both few and small ; for example, my thumb- 
nail is as well clothed as we were ; and, as we went along 
with our hands behind our backs, two and two, the boys pelted 
us with mud, eggs, dead cats, and such-like. Then they put 
us aboard the Ardent, sixty-four, commanded by a mean old 
hunks. Sir William Barnaby, or ' Captain Bill,' as we used to 
call him ; and we lay in port, aboard of her, till the peace. 
The ladies of Bermuda gave us clothing and nick-nacks, 
and tried to make us comfortable ; but, under * Captain Bill,' 
that was an impossibility. So, when the peace came, they 
shipped us to New- York, and we arrived there in June, safe 
and sound, and now I hail hereabouts. Now hand over the 
grog. I say. Jack, you mouldy-headed rascality, pay the fid- 
dler ; you spoke for him." 

" Ay, ay, Bob," says I, " so I will ; half in fair words and 
the rest in promises." 



CAPTURE OF THE CYANE AND 
LEVANT. 

PUBLISHED IN THE NEW-YORK MIRROR, 
SEPTEMBER 20tH, 1834. 



" I SAY, Jack Dennison," I continued^ addressing an old 
weather-beaten tar as broad as he was long, and so heavily 
sparred, that he looked, for all the world, like a line-o'-battle 
cut down : " now's your turn ; come, answer to your 
muster, and relieve the wheels Bob has spun us a yarn as 
long as the fore-to'-bowline, spliced onto the jib-downhaul, so, 
now, try your hand at the bellows. Tip lis a real, regular- 
built bloody one ; none of your seven-water-grog, and give it 
to us hand-over-fist, right off the reel ; and be alive about it, so 
that Bob won't be obliged to pipe ' All hands open toplights, 
ahoy,' before you get it half reeled." 

" Who made you commodore, and be d d to you, you 

long-splice of a land-lubber ?" says Jack, as he hauled up his 
courses, and cleared decks for action. "I can spin yarns, 
without asking any odds of you, you bone-polisher, so clap a 
stopper on the running part of that long tongue of yours, or 
I'll get Bob to seize you up in the weather-rigging, and heave 
a dozen into you, to make you clew up your jawing-tacks." 

" Jack," says I, discreetly rolling out of striking distance, 
" your chat is like a reefer's orders ; big words on a weak sto- 
mach : come, bear a hand, and pay out the slack, and, mind 



94 CAPTURE OP THE CYANE AND LEVANT. 

you don't choke us : small-helm, my boy, keep her full-and- 
by, if she'll go it." 

" You are a pretty fellow," says Jack, " to talk about small- 
helm. I don't believe you ever spoke the truth but once in your 
life, and that was when you said you did like duff-and-molas- 
ses, and didnH like a flogging." 

" Avast Jack," says I, " I'll haul-off, and repair damages." 

So Jack stowed away the old-soger in the North-East corner 
of his tarpaulin, took a fresh bite of purser's-plug, and tying 
an over-haul-knot with his fists, athwart his bread-bag, and 
mooring himself snugly, he began his yarn, as he did every 
thing, butt-end-foremost. 

" Sail, ho !" sung out the look-out on the fore-topsail-yard of 
the Constitution frigate, Commodore Stewart, about four bells 
in the forenoon watch, of the twentieth of February, 1815, 
Madeira bearing South-East by East, distant two hundred 
miles. 

" ' Where-away ?' hailed the officer of the deck. 

'■'• ' Right-ahead, Sir,' replied the look-out. 

" ' Gentleman-of-the-watch !' hailed the lieutenant, '■ report 
to the Commodore, Sir, a strange sail right-ahead.' 

'■The middy made his report, and came up again, with or- 
ders to make all sail in chase. 

" ' Aha !' thought we, as we set stu'n'-sails alow and aloft, 
though the breeze was rather too stiff for them, ' now for some 
fun.' 

" Old Ironsides took the hint, and gathering way, we were 
off in no time at all, South-and-by-East, at ten knots an hour. 

" The look-out hailed again in five minutes, ' Another sail, 
right ahead, Sir ; close aboard the first one.' 

" This was reported to the Commodore, and he repeated the 
order to pull a heel after them ; and after them we went, at a 
great rate, right before the wind, which Was so strong that the 
stu'n'-sail-booms bent like nothing ; but the old man did not 
care for that, ' What she can't carry, let her drag,' was his 
rule, and he stuck to it welL 



CAPTURE OP THE CYANE AND LEVANT. 95 

" After we had been spanking along about an hour, the ofR- 
cer-of-the-deck hailed : 

'• ' Fore-topsail-yard, there ! What do you make them out to 
be?' 

" ' Men-o'-war, sir, going large, stu'n'-sails set,' says the look- 
out. 

"This report, 'two men-o'-war ahead,' spread through the 
ship in less than no time, and all the idlers, watch-below, and 
every body came on deck to have a squint at them ; and the 
Commodore took a devil of a shot at them, through his long 
spy-glass, to make out where they hailed from. They were 
so far ahead that we couldn't make out anything, so we 
watched old Stewart, to see what he thought. 

" He stood on the starboard-cathead, squinting, and squint- 
ing, till we thought he never would knock-off. After a long 
spell at it, he shut up the glass, and went along aft, talking to 
himself, as if he was working up his dead-reckoning, and 
came-to, at the horse-block, all in a bight. All of a sudden 
he brigh.tened up, went down into the cabin, and was on deck 
ao-ain in no time at all, in full uniform. 

" ' There,' says we, ' the old man has got his fighting-traps 
rigged, swabs and all. Now, then, look out for hard knocks 
and prize-money.' 

" The officers took the hint, and in ten minutes all hands 
of them were in fighting-togs, and things began to look a little 
man-o'-war fashion. 

" Well, we cracked on her, ring-tail, sky-scraper, jibbe-jib, 
and the d — 1 knows what not, and went spanking off at twelve 
knots an hour ; but the fellows ahead did their prettiest, too ; 
so that it was three bells, in the first dog-watch, before we got 
near enough to make out much. 

^'- We could then see, very plainly, that one of them was a 
cravatte and t'other a sloop-of-war, and they looked like John- 
ny Bull's craft ; so the old man ordered a bow-chaser to be fir- 
ed, just to make them look at us, for they were a long way 
out of shot ; and when he had waked them so, he sent up the 



96 CAPTURE OP THE CYANE AND LETANT. 

old gridiron at the fore-skysail-mast-head, so that they could 
see it plain. They answered a minute after, each a gun, and 
sent up British colours ! 

" ' Now, boys,' says we, ' for a brush ;' but Johnny Bull did 
not think so, but pulled heel all the harder ; but we gained on 
him, and 'twas very plain we should overhaul him ; so the 
word was passed, 

" ' Fore-and-aft, both sides, and amid-ships, all hands ! 
Turn-to and clean yourselves, white frocks and trowsers, to 
muster.' " 

'• Avast, Jack Dennison," says I, " what did you put on 
your muster-clothes to fight in. for ? Get them spoiled and 
dirty, and some ugly holes drilled in them, prehaps." 

" Short yarns, youngster," growled Jack, " we were going 
to meeting, as you Yankees say ; and so we rigged ourselves 
to put Johnny Bull's eyes out. if he looked our way. 

" Well, we cleared up decks, and got every thing in fight- 
ing trim ; arm-chests on deck, cutlass-racks at the capstan, and 
forrard, put on the gratings, rove preventer-sheets and braces, 
slung the yards in chains, lashed the topsails, sanded down 
decks, and got every thing ready in regular-built style. When 
we were within about four miles of the Englishmen, we train- 
ed one of our bow-chasers on them, and let drive, just by way of 
opening the conversation, as my sweetheart used to say : but 
that did not do much ; but Johnny Bull, as if he had just 
thought what we wanted of him, began to shorten sail, as if 
he was coming-to for us. 

i': We were glad enough to see that motion, and began to 
think he might be a clever fellow after all, and so shortened 
gail ourselves. But Johnny was playing us a trick ; for, when 
we got under fighting canvass, and had lost some headway, he 
threw his men aloft, and his sails being only stopped-up, and 
not half stowed, he was under all sail again in a minute. But 
old Stewart saw what they were at, and they found that Yan- 
kees could loose sail too, upon a pinch, for we were under all 
pail almost as sooii as they were, and after them we went. 



CAPTURE OF THE CYANE AND LEVANT. 97 

" The cravatte (we afterwards found she was the Cyane, 
and t'other the Levant, and I'll call them so 'cause it's shorter) 
began to blaze away at us with her stern-chasers, but we told 
her nothing, for firing bow-chasers deadens a ship's way, and 
we determined to put off that part of the business till we got 
them alongside. So we went on, gaining on them at every 
plunge, when, all of a sudden, they began to shorten sail 
again. 

" We began to take in sail too^ for stu'n'-sails are no things 
to go into action with, keeping an eye on them, for fear they 
would trick us again. And, sure enough, so it was ; for, when 
we had got under topsails, topgallan'-sails, and courses, they 
both came up into the wind, gave us each a broadside, and 
then made all sail to get away. 

" That did not please us much, and we swore some pretty 
tough ones at them, and then gave chase. This time we 
gained on them the same as before, and coming nearer and 
nearer, they saw they could not get away, and then they 
shortened sail ; and like true English bull-dogs, got ready for 
whatever we chose to give them, and to do their best to be 
Scotch prizes to us, after all. 

" We shortened sail, stowing every thing snug, for we saw 
they meant to fight it out this time, and then sent up ensigns 
at the fore, main, and mizen, at the peak, and on the bowsprit; 
so that if soine were shot away, we should have something to 
fight under still. But Commodore Stewart, knowing the spunk 
of us fellows, gave particular orders not to nail them to the 
7nas( ; for he knew^ as anyone with brains would, that that 
way of doing business was all folly. It was, he knew, an im- 
possibility for Johnny Bull to beat us in fair fighting, yard arm 
to yard-arm ; but then some accident might happen, and we 
should be in a bight, if the signal-halyards would not render. 

"The order was obeyed by all except Pat Flanagan, an 
Irish fore-topman, who was sent aloft to set the ensign at the 
fore. He took up some nails, and a marlin-spike for a ham- 
mer, and nailed the ensign to the flag-pole in three places. 

13 



98 CAPTURE OF THE CYANE AND LEVANT. 

" ' There,' says Pat, as he came down into the fore-top, ' I'll 
be d — d if that flag shall be struck, unless the mast goes by the 
board.' 

" Then the drums beat to quarters, and as soon as they had 
done, the saucy Englishmen repeated the call with a full band, 
and rolled oif with ' Rule Britannia;' and, both lufiing suddenly 
in the last strain, the music was drowned with the thunder of 
two broadsides fired all together, plump at us. I never heard 
such music before, and I hope I never shall again, especially 
in a moonlight night. 

"Then came the orders for bringing ship to action. Both 
batteries were cast loose, tompions out, aprons off, and loaded 
with each around shot, a stand of grape and cannister. 

" 'Man both batteries !' sung out the first-luff; they were 
manned. 

" ' Depress your guns for a close fire ; wait for the word of 
command ; silence, fore-and-aft !' 

"He stopped, and we hardly breathed ; our decks were as 
still as death ; and as I was only about eighteen years old, and 
had never been in action, I began to feel a little streaked. I 
was stationed at one of the quarter-deck guns, and of course 
could see every thing; and standing still alongside my gun, 
I had nothing to think of, but the question whether the flat-fish 
wouldn't be dubbing their ugly noses into my carcase, at the 
bottom of the sea, before long ; and, I can tell you, I felt a 
little queer as the shot from the Englishmen flew around us : 
I didn't like standing still to be shot at. 

" Right ahead, about a mile off, were the Cyane and Levant, 
under easy sail. The Levant was a little ahead of the Cyane, 
and as it was bright moonlight, we could see everything as 
plain as day, and they blazed away at us with sterii-chasers and 
quarter-deck guns all the time, but we took no notice of it. 

. " ' Wait for the word of command,' says the first-luff, again ; 
* not a shot must be thrown away.' 

" As we neared them, their fire grew hotter and hotter, till, 



CAPTURE OP THE CYANE AND LEVANT. 99 

when we were on the Cyane's larboard quarter, the sea was 
all in a blaze. 

" ' Port !' hailed the first-luff, in a voice so loud, that we 
heard it plain in spite of the Englishmen's broadsides. Their 
game was to keep both on our larboard-side, so that we should 
be obliged to divide our larboard-battery between them ; but 
Commodore Stewart knew better than that. 

" We passed the starboard side of the Cyane, and luffed-up 
between her and the Levant ; they luffed too, so that we should 
not rake them, and then the first lieutenant hailed again, 

" ' Mind the weather-roll fire !' 

" Every gun aboard was fired the minute the word passed 
his lips ; the larboard-battery into the Cyane ; and the star- 
board, into the Levant ; and as the kick of one battery met the 
kick of the other, the ship didn't heel an inch, but trembled 
like a leaf from the kelson to the trucks, i never shall for- 
get how I felt then : the noise of our batteries was enough to 
split a man's head open ; but the most awful sound to me was 
the crashing our shot made aboard the Englishmen ; it was 
as if every mast had gone by the board ; every shot told ; and 
the yells of the wounded ! it makes my blood run cold to think 
of it! 

" They gave us as good as we sent, and tried to rake us, but 
they found we could fight both batteries and work ship too ; 
so at it we went, hammer and tongs ; and shot and splinters 
flew well, fore-and-aft. 

" I was first-loader of my gun, and as it was in the larboard 
battery, my mark was the Cyane. After we had been at it a 
little while, a round-shot took the man next me in the head, 
and dashed his blood and brains all over me ; but all my skit- 
tishness was gone after the first broadside, and I did not mind 
this trifle at all. 

" The next minute, as I had finished loading her, and was 
stepping back, my left arm dropped numb by my side. I felt 
of it, but there was no skin broken, nor so much as the sleeve 
of my frock singed, but still I could not lift it ; and I 'spose 
'twas the wind of a shot passing close to it. 



100 CAPTURE OF THE CYANE AND LEVANT. 

" The lieutenant of my division, seeing something was foul, 
told me to go below to the doctor. 

" ' If I do, I'm d — d,' says I, touching my hat, so that he 
needn't call it insolence ; but I took my station at the train- 
tackle, for I could haul-in and run-out the gun with one hand 
as well as a dozen ; and the man I relieved took my post as 
loader, and a minute after a round shot cut him in two ; so, 
there was my luck. 

"Well, after a while the enemy's fire began to slack a little, 
and that made us work away all the harder, and pretty soon 
the Cyane hauled down her ensign, (guess 'twasn't nailed to 
the mast !) but the Levant made sail to get away ; so old Iron- 
sides fell off from the wind, to bring her larboard-broadside to 
bear on her, and gave it to her so solidly, that she, too, hauled 
down her flag. 

" We gave them three cheers, and then, boats being lowered, 
the Commodore sent a lieutenant and a prize crew aboard each 
of them, to take possession of them and receive their surren- 
der ; for neither of them had a boat that would float to send 
their captains aboard of us, 

"Well, we bore away towards Madeira, sailing along easy, 
repairing damages; and, when that was done, we spliced the 
main-brace, and if grog ever tasted well, it did then. 

" About six bells, in the first watch, the lieutenant in charge 
of the Cyane hailed, to say that he wanted the carpenter and 
his gang, for the ship was sinking. 

"Commodore Stewart answered the hail himself: 'Tack 
ship, Sir, and crowd all sail.' 

" This was just the thing. She had fought her starboard 
battery, and that was the side cut up with our shot ; tacking, 
and crowding all sail, threw it clear out of water, so that the 
carpenter had a fair chance at it, and old Nipton no chance at 
all. In an hour, the lieutenant made report that every thing 
was snug again, and we sailed along quietly till mornuig ; and 
then took out half of their men, and brought them aboard the 
Constitution, and manned them with our own. We didn't 



CAPTURE OF THE CYANE AND LEVANT. 101 

steal their dunnage, though, nor abuse Ihem, as Bob says they 
did in the Endymion, but let each man have his bag and ham- 
mock, the same as in his own ship. 

" We made Madeira in a couple of days, and came to an an- 
chor in Porto Prava and began to refit, and manned the Cy- 
ane and Levant as well as we could, and still have men 
enough for old Ironsides. In a week, we were ready for sea, 
and were lying quietly at anchor, when, one foggy morning, 
a small craft arrived, and reported an English fleet outside, 
coming in. We knew, well enough, that the English would 
not care a straw for the Spanish neutrality, so we cut our 
cables ; and, as the English prisoners would be in the way in a 
fight, we sent them all ashore, and then stood out. Now, 
there was an old Spanish battery ashore, which commanded 
the whole bay ; and as soon as we had landed the prisoners, 
the d — d rascals ran to that battery, manned it, and opened 
upon us in fine style. That didn't please old Stewart over 
well, and he swore some pretty tough ones, that if he got clear 
of the English fleet outside, he would come back and blow 
those fellows into the air. 

" Now, the harbor of Porto Prava has a small, but high 
island at its mouth, so that there are two channels of entrance ; 
and, as the fog was very thick, the English fleet came in at 
one, as we walked out at the other ; but they soon found their 
mistake, and came out again, before we could get any kind of 
start, and gave chase. They were five sail ; two seventy- 
fours, one razee, and two fifty-gun frigates. We could not 
stand all that; they carried too many guns for us, and we 
crowded all sail to get away. We soon found that if our 
prizes could keep up with us, wecould run the English squad- 
ron hull-down in two hours; but there was the pinch ; they 
were both heavy sailers, especially the Levant, and no match 
for old Ironsides, or the English fleet either ; so we had to 
shorten sail, to allow them to keep in company, and going so, 
Johnny Bull gained on us. Now, the Commodore showed 
them a Yankee trick. He ordered the Cyane and Levant to 
carry on every thing they could show, and then coolly drop- 



102 CAPTURE OP THE CYANE AND LEVANT. 

ped astern of them, and backed his main-topsail, to make the 
Englishmen think he intended to fight the whole bunch of 
them, so that they would shorten sail, and the Cyane and Le- 
vant could get away ; and then he would brace up again, and 
walk right away from them ; for he knew that none of their 
ships could begin to sail with the Constitution. 

" That was a pretty saucy trick, I'm thinking ; one frigate 
heave-to, for two seventy-fours, a razee, and two frigates as 
big as herself ! whew— w ! But, after all, this trick didn't do 
much good, for the English followed on, crowding all sail ; so 
the Commodore braced up again, and then hove out a signal 
to the Levant, which was falling astern of the Cyane every 
minute, to tack ship and stand back for Porto Prava, to take 
shelter under the Spanish neutrality, while we and the Cyane 
went on. She tacked accordingly, and the English admiral 
detached tiuo frigates, (the Newcastle and Acasta, forty-fours,) 
to give her chase, while he and the rest of the squadron bore 
down after us, 

"NovVj Commodore Stewart knew well enough, that if the 
Newcastle and Acasta kept on after the Levant, they would 
probably catch her ; so he shortened sail again, backed his 
maintopsail, and fired a gun to windward, hoping that the 
En":Ush admiral would then recall his frigates to take the 
Constitution, and so the Levant would escape ; but there he 
was mistaken. The admiral knew that his seventy-fours and 
razee were enough to take us ; so he let the Acasta and New- 
castle go on, while he crowded on after us. When Commo- 
dore Stewart saw that the trick had failed, he hove a signal to 
the Cyane to shift for herself, and then bracing up again, he 
made all sail, and in an hour the English hauled off, finding 
they could not catch us. 

" When we came into New- York, in April, the Cyanewas 
at anchor off the Battery ; but the Levant took refuge in Por- 
to Prava, and the English broke the Spanish neutrality, as we 
knew they would, and managed, with two fifty-gun frigates, 
to take a sloop-of-war, of twenty-two guns, with thirty men to 
man her." 



THE MUTINY, 



PUBLISHED IN THE KNICKERBOCKER MAGAZINE, 
OCTOBER, 1834. 



The anchor was weighed, catted, and fished ; top-sails 
sheeted home, top-gallant-sails loosed, and courses hauled 

aboard ; and the stout whaler, Amazon, of and from N • 

B , David Jones, Master, was under way once more in 

Ahe harbor of Valparaiso, on a fine day in November, 183 — , 
bound for the light blue sea, and the home of John Whale. 

We had lain at anchor in Valparaiso just long enough. We 
had enjoyed ourselves to the full extent of physical felicity : 
spent all our money : broken our full allowance of heads and 
hearts ; and now with light heads and heels, we were ' out- 
ward bound.' 

But, although we were leaving Valparaiso, it was not in 
our hearts as men, (much less as sailors,) to quit it without 
some emotions of regret. Certain it is, that when I looked at 
this most picturesque of the abodes of man, ' distance lending 
enchantment,' and hiding its blemishes,— as it lay before me, 
in all the splendor of the noon -day sun, terrace above terrace 
of white walls and red roofs, the lofty spires of cathedrals 
standing forth in bold relief from the cloudless sky, pointing 
the faithful to heaven, — the delicious sensations caused by its 
surpassing beauty, were mixed with sadness at the thought 
that I was leaving it all for a long time, and, perhaps, forever. 



104 THE MUTINY, 

It was now past sunset, and daylight and the Chilian coast 
were leaving us together. Point Angels, — the Western cape 
of the Bay of Valparaiso, more angelic in name than appear- 
ance, (being a rocky, dangerous promontory.) was astern ; 
and the matchless green of the coast, and the majestic blue 
and white of the Andes, grew more and more indistinct, until 
at length no part of them was visible, save one high peak, 
which proudly threw its cloud-capped crest into the heavens, 
as if to show the sea-worn mariner that it watched over his 
weal, though all earth beside left him to perish. That peak, 
though the mighty Pacific lashed its shores in wrath, and roll- 
ed its angry waves mountains high — far above the war of 
wind and wave, calmly reared its hoary head, undisturbed by 
the commotion of the elements, — a majestic land-mark from 
the creation to the end of time. At length that, also, faded 
from our view. The bell struck eight ; the watch was set, 
and it being my watch below, I went down into the forecastle 
to do the rest of my dreaming asleep. 

Sleep ! — how delicious it is, people on shore never know. 
The sailor, who sleeps by the minute, liable to be roused at 
any time, on a second's warning — he sleeps. Land-lubbers 
only doze. 

At this time, I was a foremast-hand aboard the Amazon, 
having joined her in Valparaiso, for the romance of the thing — 
to learn how to catch whales and eat blubber ; and my curio- 
sity was in a fair way of being satisfied, for we were bound 
for the Pacific South Cruising-ground, where whales can be 
had for the catching, ' provided always,' as the statutes have 
it, you can find them. 

For the benefit of the ' untravelled,' I would remark, that the 
South Cruising-ground is that part of the Pacific ocean oif 
the coast of Chili and Patagonia, between 40° and 50° South 
latitude, which, for some reason, is a favorite resort of whales, 
and, of course, of whale-ships ; for ' where the carcase is, 
there will the eagles be gathered together.' It is one of the 
loveliest spots in the whole South Sea : and I ask any tar, 



THE MUTINY. 105 

who has served there, if he ever was happier in his life than 
when standing off-and-on for whales, on the South Cruising- 
ground. 

Life aboard a whaler, is life. There can be no harder ser- 
vice than catching whale, and, probably, none more danger- 
ous. But, with all its dangers and hardships, there is a fasci- 
nation in it, which only those who have felt it, can conceive. 
There is something noble and inspiring in capturing this 
monster of the deep. This taming of Leviathan is a grand 
exemplification of the universality of the dominion of man. 
And when the toils of the chase are over, and John Whale is 
fairly " tried" into oil ; then, in the depths profound of the fore- 
castle, we sailor-men take our ease, smoke cigars, drink grog, 
and fight our battles over again^ and sometimes fight new 
ones among ourselves. 

In the Amazon, we had a good share of the comforts of 
nautical life. She was a stout ship of five hundred tons bur- 
then, and carried thirty men : enough " beef," one would think, 
to work ship and fight her too^ if need should be. Captain 
Jones was a good sailor, and an honest, kind-hearted man; 
but nature never meant him for the commander of a ship. 
He was too easy with his men ; and nothing but the fear of a 
flogging will keep old sailors in order. The second mate^ 
named Field, was a wide-awake Yankee ; but the first mate, 
Brown, was a devil incarnate. 

He was a large, powerful man — much more so than either 
the Captain or Field ; and although he had been aboard but 
a week, (he joined us in Valparaiso,) he had begun to show 
that he intended to rule the ship himself, and I did not like 
the cut of his jib at all. 

There were some rumors in Valparaiso that he had been a 
pirate, and his every look and action bore testimony to their 
truth ; and before we had been out two days, he began to alter 
his conduct towards the Captain, and seemed waiting for some 
pretext to quarrel with him openly. He went on, growing 

14 



106 THE MUTINY. 

shorter and shorter with him, 'till one day, when we were 
four days out, he fairly showed his colors. 

There were eight fellows aboard, all suspicious looking craft, 
who shipped aboard of us at the same time that Brown did, 
and all the morning of this day he had been whispering with 
one and another of them. I could not help thinking that 
there would be the devil to pay before long ; but as he was 
very sly about it, his conduct was not generally observed. 

About two bells in the first dog-watch that afternoon. Brown 
having the deck, Captain Jones stepped to the binnacle, and 
stooped to look at the compass. I was standing near at the 
time, and happening to look at Brown, was taken ail-aback by 
the expression of his face. He looked at the Captain just as 
if he was about to kill him. So satanic a look I never saw 
on the face of mortal man. 

When the Captain had satisfied himself that the ship was 
heading her course, he spoke to the first mate ; — 

"How many is she going, Mr. Brown?" 

" /know," said Brown, " and that's enough." 

" Mr. Brown," replied the Captain, "what do you mean, Sir? 
I command this ship."^ 

" I'm d — — d if you do !" said Brown ; and snatching up a 
heaver, that lay near, he struck him on the head with all his 
strength. Being bare-headed, and having nothing to break the 
force of the blow, the Captain fell upon the deck, and never 
moved a finger. He was dead ! 

" Come aft here, Antonio," said Brown to one of his men, 
" and toss this thing overboard." Having turned his pockets 
inside out, Antonio very coolly did as he was commanded. 

" Now then," continued Brown, " call all hands." 

All hands came on deck, and Brown, having his loaded pis- 
tols lying by him on the capstan, very deliberately told them that 
Captain Jones had been insolent to him, and he had thrown 
hiai overboard ; that he was now master of the ship, and would 
kill any man who dared to say a word. 

" Do you hear that, Mr. Field ?" said he to the second mate. 



THE MUTINY. 107 

" Mind that you behave well, or I will serve you in the same 
manner." 

Field was as brave as most men, and looked, for a minute, 
as if he would show light ; but as he did not know who he 
could depend upon, he merely answered, " Yes, Sir," and went 
about his business. As he submitted, all hands did the same, 
and things went on as if nothing was the matter. But after 
dusk, in the second dog-watch. Field having the deck, I 
thought there was some unusual stir among five or six fellows, 
whom I knew were friends and " townies " of his. I watched 
them closer, and thought they were busy with a boat which 
hung on the lee-quarter. One would toss something in, and 
then another — and I wondered vfhat they were driving at : 
but in a few minutes all was quiet again, and, soon after, the 
bell struck eight, and the first mate came on deck to stand his 
watch as usual. 

He looked pretty hard at Field as he made his report of 
courses, wind, etc., but he was so very respectful, that Brown's 
suspicions were effectually lulled. 

" Mr. Field," said he, " we shall have fine times now that that 
old fool is out of the way ; and when we get more Southing, 
I mean to keep her away for the Cuachos Island, and there 
we'll take our comfort." 

" That's a fact, Mr. Brown," said Field, " there will be some 
fun in that ;" and he went below, as if he and the first mate 
were the best friends in the world. 

The first watch passed off quietly enough ; but I was too 
busy thinking to sleep, and was wide-awake when we were 
called at eight bells. As soon as the wheel was relieved, and 
Brown had gone below. Field spoke to us : 

" My lads, she goes well. There won't be any thing to do, 
this watch ; and you may cork on the forecastle, if you like." 

This was a common custom with the second mate, in fair 
weather, and all the watch went forward accordingly, leaving 
only himself and the man-at-the-wheel, aft. Still, I thought 



108 THE MUTINY. 

it meant something this time, and I lay down under the wea- 
ther-bulwarks, amid-ships, to see what was coming. 

In about ten minutes, six fellows came along aft, one by 
one. They went first to the wheel and lashed it amid-ships. 
Putting some things into the lee-quarter boat, they slushed the 
tackles and lowered it, and then all getting in, they let her 
drop astern ; and, as it was very dark, I saw no more of them, 
and quietly moored myself under the lee of the long-boat. 

I knew that the second mate and his men were safe enough 
now, for we were not far from the coast of Chili, and a whale- 
boat will live in almost any breeze. With their sail and six 
oars, they could run away from us at any time ; and it now 
occurred to me what they had been about in the evening : 
namely, putting provision and water aboard ; and go they were 
right enough. 

But the next question was, — What would Brown do when 
he found it out ? That remained to be seen, and I lay in very 
uneasy expectancy. 

About six bells, he came on deck : — 

" How do you head there ?" said he to the man who was 
{not) at the wheel. Receiving no reply, he damned the fellow 
as asleep ; but on going aft to wake him, he found that he and 
the second mate were among the missing, and the wheel lash- 
ed. 

Nothing ever took him by surprise, and he hailed instant- 

ly:- 

« For'ard there !" 

" Sir ?" sung out one fellow from the forecastle, who hap- 
pened to be awake. 

" Come aft here, you d d rascal," said Brown : " where's 

all the watch ?" 

" Mr. Field told us to cork on the forecastle, Sir," said the 
trembUng sailor. 

" The devil he did !" said Brown ; " and where is he ?" 

" I don't know, Sir," said the man. 



THE MUTINY. 109 

" Well, who does know V continued Brown. " Come aft 
here all of you." 

We went aft, but no one could tell him where the second 
mate was, and, on mustering the watch, he found that six 
men were missing. He jumped to leeward, and sung out that 
the quarter-boat was gone. A moment after, the man at the 
wheel reported that one compass was gone from the binna- 
cle. 

'' He is off in a boat," said Brown, "but I'll catch him before 
morning. Call all hands — 'bout ship — ready, ready !" 

We were standing at this time, South-East-bySouth, on a 
South-West wind, and the most natural conjecture was, that 
Field had made for the land ; but, for that very reason. Brown 
thought it was not the fact ; and tacking the ship, he put her 
head due West, and crowded all sail. 

There was so much promptness in Brown's manner, that I 
was afraid he was right in his supposition ; and as he swore 
he would run them down if he caught them, I waited anx- 
iously for day. 

Satan always favors his children ; and so he did this time, 
— for when day-light came, the boat was in sight, about four 
miles distant, on our weather-bow ! 

I thought, now, that we should see some murder done ; — for 
Brown loaded his musket and pistols, and ordered to clear 
away a twelve- pounder, which was forward, and loaded it 
with grape-shot, nails, glass, etc. But my fears were ground- 
less ; for, as soon as Field saw us, he struck his mast, and taking 
to the oars, pulled dead to windward, at ten knots an hour. 

That manoeuvre was his salvation ; for he had too much 
start to be chased by a boat, and the ship could not conveni- 
ently sail in the wind's eye. So Brown, after swearing 'till 
he was black in the face, tacked ship again, and giving up all 
hope of catching Field, stood South-East for Cuachos. 

But he was too regularly mad, to go off so ; and since Field 
had escaped him, he vented his rage against the men of our 
watch. He shot one with his musket, and two more with his 



110 THE MUTINY. 

pistols ; and, being somewhat appeased by the sight of blood, 
he then grew more good-natured : ordered them overboard 
with a jest, and called all hands to splice the main-brace. 

But his good-nature soon evaporated, and he became as 
snappish as a hungry oyster. The three days we were mak- 
ing Cuachos, he was abusing all whom he thought unfriendly 
to him, and threatening to kill them if they did not behave ; 
and, what with all this abuse and uncertainty, I never spent 
three days so miserably in my life, and never was more rejoiced 
at the sight of land, than when Cuachos hove in sight. 

Cuachos is a small uninhabited island, lying about five 
hundred miles West-North-West from Chiloe. It has a very 
fine soil, producing fruit and vegetables in profusion, and 
droves of wild-hogs are running about, to be had for the killing. 
We came to anchor in the harbor, and Brown gave all hands 
a run ashore, to take the turns out of their legs, he said ; but 
in reality, it was that he could search the ship. 

When we had been tliere about a week. Brown began to 
take the spare spars and plank from the ship, to build a house 
ashore ; and said he intended to strip her, and take her to pieces, 
and that we would all live there, and he would be governor. 

There was one thing about his plan of operations which I 
couldn't get along with ; namely, his population were all men, 
and I very soon determined not to stay, and be governed by 
that old devil on such terms. I found one other fellow. Bill 
Stevens by name, who had come to the same conclusion. But 
the question was, how could we get away ? — for all hands were 
with Brown, and we alone could do nothing. But after knock- 
ing our heads together a while, we formed our plan. A 
pretty stiff one it was, too ; but it was our only hope — and we 
stood by for an opportunity to put it in execution. 

It was now summer, (December,) and as the wind in those 
seas blows steadily from the Southward in the summer months, 
we concluded we could sail the ship into Valparaiso, alone, if 
we could once get her to sea ; and as the harbor opened to- 



THE MUTINY. Ill 

wards the North-East, we thought we could accomplish that 
too, if luck favored us. 

One morning, a few days after this. Brown ordered all the 
sails to be loosed to dry, and then went ashore with all hands, 
leaving Bill Stevens and myself aboard, as ship-keepers ; re- 
marking, as he went over the side into his boat, that he should 
run the ship ashore the next day, high and dry, and then 
knock her to pieces. 

" Now, Bill Stevens," said I, " it's our last chance. We must 
go to sea to-day, or never." 

" Ay, ay," said Bill, coolly ; " we'll do that thing." 

We lay at this time about half a mile from the shore, moor- 
ed head and stern, with her head towards the sea ; and as the 
yards were square, the wind filled the sails that hung loose ; 
and by some unaccountable piece of good fortune, they had all 
been hoisted, after they were loosed to dry. Bill and I turned 
to, and, after belaying the braces, very quietly sheeted home 
the royals ; and as these filled, we found that the ship moved 
a little, and was getting over her anchor. 

That discovery made our hearts beat thick, but we had too 
much to do, to give way to any emotion. The anchor out ahead 
had a chain-cable, but the kedge astern was fast to a hawser 
that was belayed round the capstan ; which, as the ship forged 
ahead, was gradually tightening. We unshackled the chain- 
cable, and putting mats in the iron hause-holes to prevent any 
noise, let it run out, slowly and carefully ; and then cutting the 
hawser astern — we were free ! 

We lashed the helm amid-ships; sheeted home to'gallan' 
sails ; then, topsails, one sheet at a time. That was the de- 
cisive move ; and the wind freshening at the moment, the 
ship gathered way, and began rapidly to leave the land. 

We were not yet observed from the shore, and went on, 
sheeting home one sail after another as well as we could ; and, 
belaying the fore-tack and sheet, left the mainsail alone, in 
order that the foresail might draw. 

When we were about a mile from the shore, and under so 



112 THE MUTINY. 

much way that we thought it was impossible for them to over- 
take uSj we trained the twelve-pounder on the place where 
they were at work, and, having hoisted the national ensign at 
the peak, we fired the gun, and sent the grape-shot, which 
Brown had intended for Field, whistling about his own ears ; 
and thus, in cavalier fashion, bade them " Good-bye." 

This made some dancing and swearing among them, but 
they immediately put off in boats and gave chase. 

" Now then. Bill," says I, " mind your eye, for here comes a 
tussle." 

" Ay, ay," said he very coolly, as he swabbed out the old 
twelve ; " lend a hand here, and we'll sweeten them high." 

We loaded her again with grape, nails, slugs,, glass, and 
every thing we could lay our hands on, filling her to the 
muzzle ; and then loaded all the muskets aboard, of which, by 
good luck, there were more than a dozen. We went on mak- 
ing sail as well as we could, for we knew that if we were 
overtaken, " death, or worse punishment," as the laws of war 
have it, was the best we had to expect. 

They came on after us very fast, and as the wind had most 
unfortunately lulled considerably, they made two feet to our 
one, and it was very plain that unless we could increase our 
speed, they would certainly overtake us. We hauled the 
twelve-pounder aft, and running its muzzle over the taffrail, 
" depressed it for a close fire," and getting our muskets aft also, 
we took our stand ; determined to beat them off, or die in the 
attempt. 

There were now four boats hotly pursuing us ; but the 
foremost one. which Brown commanded, was the only one 
that seemed likely to overtake us ; and it did seem impossible 
for us to escape him, for he gained on us every minute. But 
when he was just within musket-shot of us, the wind fresh- 
ened suddenly, and for a moment we were slipping right 
away from him. It was but momentary, however, for the 
wind lulled again, and he came on faster than ever. 

Brown was standing in the bow of his boat, his musket in 



THE MUTINY. 113 

his hand, and as he was to windward of us, we could plainly 
hear him, as he swore roundly that he would " kill every 
d d mother's son of us." 

" Perhaps you will, friend Brown," thought I — "but that's 
a game that txco can play at ;" and, asking pardon for the mur- 
der, I coolly took aim at him with a musket, and let drive. I 
never missed my aim before, but he was under the especial 
protection of the devil. My ball did not touch him, while 
his, in return, grazed my cheek, — ^just drawing blood. 

As he was loading, I fired at him again, and, although I 
never had a fairer shot, again missed him. But the ball was 
not wasted this time. It passed through the head of his bow- 
oars-man ; and as Brown rose to fire at me again, his stroke- 
oars-man fell dead from the same cause, while Brown's ball 
passed through my hat — doing no mischief whatever. 

I had now found the way to gain upon him, and that was, 
to kill his men ; and I put my knowledge in practice so 
eflfectually, that in five minutes he had only two oars-men 
left. 

At this juncture the wind freshened very much, for we 
were clear of the harbor, and in the open sea, and there could 
be no question of our final escape. So we gave him the 
pepper-and-salt mixture from the twelve-pounder, which dis- 
abled the rest of his oars. We then cheered him, and left 
him to found as many empires in the South Seas as he felt 
inclined. 

But our work was only begun. We were standing out to 
sea, under a press of canvass, iu a ship of five hundred tons, 
to work which properly, at least eighteen men were requisite. 
We were nearly a thousand miles from Valparaiso, and four 
hundred from the nearest port, Yaldivia ; and " we two fellows" 
were to work and navigate this ship into port, as we best 
could. 

That we were safe from Brown, was an undeniable and 
most joyous fact ; but I must confess that we felt rather sad 

15 



114 THE MUTINY. 

when we looked around at sunset, and saw nothing but sky 
and water. We felt that we were indeed alone. 

However, we plucked up courage, determined to do all that 
men might, before we gave it up. 

The wind was, fortunately, perfectly fair. We had plenty 
of provisions and water : the ship's quadrants, chronometers, 
charts, and compasses were all aboard, and we both under- 
stood navio-ation. We knew we could ffet on well enoujj^h as 
long as it was fair weather ; but a gale of wind would send 
us straight to the bottom. 

However, these anticipations were all out of place. We 
knew too much to borrow trouble ; and determining to enjoy 
the present, and let the future take care of itself, the devasta- 
tions that we made among the cabin-stores that evening, at 
supper, were neither few nor small. We ate fruit, and drank 
wine, and were as jolly as if we were snug in port. 

" For who knows. Bill," said I, " whether you or I shall 
ever be skipper of a big ship again ? Let's make the most of 
this one." 

And we did make the most of it, with a vengeance. We 
got so gloriously fuddled, that when we awoke the next day, 
it took us half an hour to brinar ourselves to our bearing's. 

After we had " freshened the nip," and stowed away our 
breakfast, we called a council of war, to form "Rules and 
Regulations, for the better government of the ship under our 
command." As we had no constituents to speechify for, our 
code of laws was formed in the tossing of a marlin-spike ; 
and the amount of it was, that "while both were sober, we 
should be equal in authority ; but in the event of drunk- 
enness or disagreement, the right of the stronger should 
prevail ;" or, in other words, he who carried the most guns, 
should be the best fellow. 

Our code had one merit ; — it was a short splice of a thing. 
It fitted our necessities exactly, and worked charmingly into 
the bargain. 

At seven bells, I shot the sua with the skipper's quadrant, and 



THE MUTINY. 115 

reported noon, and latitude 42° South, to Bill, with all becom- 
ing gravity. 

" Very good, Sir," said Bill, touching his tarpaulin in true 
man-o'-war-skipper's style, " make it so, and pipe to dinner 
and grog, Sir." 

" Do it yourself, old man," said I, " for the Boatswain is sick, 
and my thumb is sore." 

" I'll court-martial you, you insolent fellow," quoth Bill, 
putting his hands in his pockets, and puffing up like the frog 
in the fable. 

" Do, if you please, Commodore," said I. " Court me, in- 
deed ! I'll have a handsomer man than you, or none at all." 

"None at all," echoed Bill, as he began to devour tlie din- 
ner most valoroLisly. 

" All !" I responded, taking the lion's share. 

" Leave a little," ejaculated Bill, with his mouth full, po- 
king out his flipper. 

'' A little," I echoed, giving him a tithe ; and so we duetted 
through the dinner. 

"Now. then," said Bill, when we were discussing our des- 
sert on deck, " this is what I call making a straight wake. 
Look at the old craft ! She's like Poll Dover ; spreads a 
of a clew, and goes like the devil," 

" Hope she won't go like Poll, to the devil," said I, joyously 
looking aloft. 

"No danger of that while you are aboard," quoth Bill, with 
a knowing squint. 

" Scull that bottle this way, you land-lubber," said I, " and 
none of your insinuations." 

" What kind of a craft is that?" said Bill. " Splinter my 
mizen, but I never heard his name before." 

" You be " was my kind response. 

" Gentleman of the watch !" roared Bill, " report to the Cap- 
tain, Sir, a long word cruising about decks, — strange sail, — 
no particular nation, — nobody knows him, — flying Dutch- 
man, — better heave a round shot at him." 



116 THE MUTINY. 

On that we joined battle ; but, both being well in the wind, 
we rolled together down the companion-way. brought up 
against the cabin-bulk-head, and snored away most lovingly 
'till morning. 

After spending six days more in this most intellectual and 
corporeal manner, we made the port of "Valparaiso, and walk- 
ed into it, with the national ensign at the fore, union-down ; 
and there being a Johnny War there, we were taken care of, 
" according to the statute in such case made and provided." 



MY FIRST AND LAST FLOGGING. 



PUBLISHED IN THE KNICKERBOCKER MAGAZINE, 
DECEMBER, 1834. 



Thomas White, the First Lieutenant of the frigate Java, 
was what is, on shore, called a sailor. That is, he could talk 
boom-tackle, swear, drink grog' like a fish, box the compass, 
and tell which way the wind blew. Add to these various ac- 
complishments, the fact that his father was a subordinate in 
the Navy Department, and his mother the handsomest woman 
in Washington, and you have the reasons which made him 
the * Executive' of the Java.* 

Like most of the younger officers of the navy of this peace- 
ful republic, he had never been so fortunate as to see any 
actual service ; so, as is usual among the " sea lieutenants," he 
was wont, — lest his valor should rust in the scabbard, and 
stick fast, — to show his bravery in flogging the poor devils 
under his command, every morning, before the Captain was 
up ; in order, as he humanely expressed it, " to get an appetite 
for breakfast." 

* The precise detail of this paragraph may induce the supposition that real, 
living characters are referred to ; but such is not the fact. There is no such 
officer in the navy as " Thomas White ;" that name, as well as the name of 
the " Java," being a mere random selection. Indeed, as it virill be obvious to all 
who are likely to read this book, these sketches are chiefly ^cfio7i5. 



118 MY FIRST AND LAST FLOGGING. 

It was about three bells in the morning watch of the tenth 
of June, 18—, when the Java was standing North-by-East, in 
the Pacific Ocean, bound for Callao, — San Lorenzo distant 
about forty-five miles, — that I, being properly "stripped," was 
seized up to the Jacob's-ladder, by order of Lieutenant White, 
solely that he might have an appetite, — no offence having been 
either committed or alleofed. The dozen was "hove into me" 
with the cat, in the most approved manner ; and at the con- 
clusion of the ceremony, the Lieutenant, taking off his hat, and 
bowing low, — as was his custom — said, 

" My respects to you, Sir. Do you feel warm about the 
shoulders?" 

"Whatever I felt, I had wit enough to say nothing, and with 
the humble demeanor proper for a kicked cur, [ picked up 
my dunnage, and diving below, went to the cook of our mess 
for som.e slush to anoint my lacerated back withal. 

Reader, were you ever flogged with the cat-o'-nine-tails ? 
If you have been, you know what it is ; but if not, you can 
form no conception of its severity. Nothing, save the Russian 
knout, can be compared with it. When you are told that each 
one of the nine-tails takes from the back a strip of skin of its 
own length at every blow, you may guess how a fellow feels 
after " a dozen." 

Being somewhat relieved by the cook's application, I went 
upon deck to continue my duty. Lieutenant White, vexed at 
my taking the punishment so coolly, came up, and striking a 
blow over my shoulders with a bit of ratlin, which made me 
wince grievously, said, — 

" So, you are well again, are you ? You are used to the cat ; 
you shall have more next time. Stop, I am a bit of a surgeon, 
let me examine your back : it ought to be attended to." 

There was nothing for me but obedience, — so I hauled off, 
and the Lieutenant began his inspection. 

" Garnet," said he in a mock-compassionate tone, "' you are 
in a bad way ; this must be plastered immediately. Here, doc- 
tor," addressing a boatswain's mate, " apply your line-i-meiit 



MY FIRST AND LAST FLOGGING. 119 

to this man's shoulders. It is the best salve in the world, 
Jack : it's the hair of the dog that bit you. " 

A dozen with the cat was now tucked on, and although the 
pain was so intense that I could scarcely avoid screaming at 
every blow, I contrived, by biting my tongue until my mouth 
was full of blood, to keep perfectly still. 

His appetite being now sufficient. White ordered my release, 
and promising the same dose " very often," he sent me below. 

1 lay down between a couple of guns on the main deck, for- 
ward, groaning in most exquisite agony ; for I had never been 
flogged before, and of course suffered more than an old hand ; 
while, in the intervals of comparative ease, I Swore more oaths 
than I care to repeat, that if he ever fell in my power, I 
would have his heart's blood, if I was hanged for it the next 
day. 

I was one of the crew of the First Lieutenant's gig ; and 
when we came to anchor in Callao, at noon, and it was called 
away to take him ashore, — although the Surgeon had, of his 
own accord, put me on the sick list, — White sent the man 
who had taken my oar, below, and ordered the boatswain's 
mate to pass the word for me. 

"Here comes the bloody man," said he, as J came on deck: 
" oblige me, Sir, by taking your oar. I'll have no skulking for 
trifles." 

I took my place in silence, and pulled as usual, though eve- 
ry stroke made my back bleed afresh, causing most bitter 
pain ; and when we reached the landing, 1 was wrought almost 
to maduess, and wfis ready for any thing. Accordingly, I re- 
solved, at all hazards, that 1 would land when he did. and follow 
him, unperceived, until, in some of the dirty lanes of Callao. I 
should overtake him alone; and having taken ample vengeance, 
I would escape, if possible, and if not, would meet whatever 
came to pass, satisfied. But, as if knowing ray plan, as soon 
as he had landed, he ordered the officer of the boat to shove 
off a small distance from the pier, not allowing any man to go 



120 MY FIRST AND LAST FLOGGING. 

ashore upon any pretence whatever, and lie there until his 
return. 

" Very well," thought I, grinding my teeth, "your time will 
come yet !" and renewing my vow, I sat still in my place. '':^ 

While we lay on our oars, near the pier, a merchantman's 
boat shoved in next us, and as the mid. was looking the other 
way, I took the opportunity to ask one of her crew when they 
would sail. 

■'' We shall up-anchor at sun-down," said he. 

"Are you short of hands aboard the Jupiter ?" I whispered. 

" Yes," he replied eagerly, in the same tone, understanding 
me at once, — " do come, Jack." 

Telling him what I wished him to do, every thing was ar- 
ranged in a minute ; and Lieutenant White coming down, we 
pulled for the ship. As soon as we came on board, I went 
below, and hauling my bag out of the range, I proceeded to 
sell, as I best could, the miscellaneous assortment usually con- 
stituting a poor sailor's all ; — a small canvass bag, not always 
full, being the sum total of his treasures. 

I said nothing of my plan to any one, but my messmates 
knew, by my offering my clothes and nick-nacks for sale at 
such a time, that I was preparing to run away ; and so, gene- 
rous hearted fellows that they were, though they could ill 
spare the money, they gave me more than I asked for every 
thing, and frequently more than the article was worth ; and 
when I had sold all excepting one suit, and a gold ring which 
she had given me in the United States, they each shook my 
hand, saying, significantly, " Good luck to you, Jack !" — and 
the warm pressure showed that they meant so. 

Securing the money thus obtained, in a small bag, which I 
wore round my neck, I sat down to complete my arrangements, 
and waited patiently for evening. My only fear was, that I 
should be sent ashore again, in the First Lieutenant's gig, and 
so be unable to get aboard the Jupiter : and, as if on purpose 
to bother me, just before sunset, it was called away. I went 
upon deck with a heavy heart, and was passing over the gang- 



MY FIRST AND LAST FLOGGING. 121 

way, when Lieutenant White, who was standing near, hailed 
me: — 

" Garnet, stay aboard, you, Sir : / am not going in that 
boat. Some of you take his oar. Go forward, Sir." 

I went forward accordingly, and taking my stand upon the 
forecastle, counted the moments which were between me and 
freedom. 

Just after sunset, they began to purchase their anchor 
aboard the Jupiter, — and sweeter music seldom, if ever, met 
my ear, than the rattling of the pauls of her windlass. As is 
common in merchant ships, they were long in getting their an- 
chor ; and when the vessel was finally under weigh, and com- 
ing towards us, — (we lay farther from the shore than they, as 
is usual for men-of-war,)— it was quite dark. She slowly 
neared us, the wind being light, under her three topsails, and 
when she was about abreast of us, I stepped slowly to the side, 
and jumping overboard, swam for her, With might and main. 

Lieutenant White, who was standing at the gangway at 
this moment, heard the splash, caught a glimpse of, and knew 
me. 

" Come back, you rascal !" said he. " Sentry, shoot him ! 
Away, third cutters, away ! Main-deck, there, quarter-gun- 
ners ! clear away Number seven, and train it across the bows 
of that ship. That ship ahoy ! Heave to ! Number seven, 
fire !" 

The Jupiter, in obedience to the emphatic roar of the Java's 
long thirty-two, instantly laid her main-topsail to the mast ; 
and White, jumping into the third-cutter, boarded her ; while 
I, untouched by the sentry's ball, now swam along with the 
utmost unconcern. 

White did not gain much aboard the Jupiter ; for although 
he searched all over her, he found nothing ; and as her captain 
(Anderson) gave him his word that I was not aboard, he went 
off with a flea in his ear ; exclaiming, to hide his vexation, as 
he jumped into his boat : — 

16 



122 MY FIRST AND LAST FLOGGING. 

" The d — d rascal is drowned, and that is some comfort," — 
and so returned to the Java. 

I had been quietly towing astern all this time, by a rope left 
there for that purpose, and was now hauled aboard. We then 
filled away, and crowding all sail, were soon past San Lorenzo, 
and in the open sea. 

I now thought that my troubles were over, — but I found 
very soon, that, as the go-ashore proverb runs, 1 had "jumped 
out of the frying-pan into the fire ;" for Captain Anderson, 
presuming upon my forlorn situation, hazed me about at a 
devil of a rate. He did not flog me, it is true, but it was only 
because he dared not, having a good will that way. According- 
ly when, seven-and-twenty days after we left Callao, we sailed 
into the harbor of Valparaiso, I entered it with the determina- 
tion to rnn away from the Jupiter on the first opportunity. 
Ned Williams, the man who aided me in escaping from the 
Java, was of the same opinion ; and putting our heads toge- 
ther, we very soon formed our plan of operations. Running 
away from a merchantman is a matter of every-day occurrence, 
and it is not an uncommon thing for half of a ship's company 
to walk off with the slack of themselves in one night, — for re- 
capture brings with it no punishment. But, although so many ' 
had preceded us in this thing, our plan was, to say the least, 
original ; and it was executed accordingly. 

We came to anchor in Valparaiso harbor about noon ; and 
having given the ship cable. Captain Anderson ordered the gig 
to be lowered and manned. Ned and I manned it, two oars 
being the allowance, — and taking him aboard, pulled away for 
the shore. There being no rudder shipped, we steered the 
boat ourselves, and, instead of coming-to at the pier, we run 
her head-on towards the beach, paying no regard to the 
Captain's orders ; and a heavy roller taking us under the 
stern when very near the shore, threw us high and dry on the 
sand. 

Bringing-up so suddenly pitched Ned and me plump ashore, 
and tossed Captain Anderson about in a very disrespectful 



MY FIRST AND LAST FLOGGING. 123 

manner ; but we soon found our legs, and leaving him to 
navigate his own boat, we made all sail, and were hull-down 
ver7 shortly. In five minutes we eame to anchor at Johnson's, 
on " the Maintop." 

•' Captain Johnson," said 1, as we burst into his bar-room, 
puffing like grampuses in a gale of wind, " give us a glass of 
grog first, and then stow us away in the cable-tier, or shot- 
locker, for we've just rim away from our ship : come, bear a 
hand." 

" Don't be in a hurry," said Johnson, — deliberately mixing a 
North-Wester for each of us, stiff enough to float grape-shot, — 
" you're safe enough ;" and giving us our grog, he began to 
enquire the news in Callao, as coolly as if there had been no 
such thing as a " Choler " in Valparaiso. 

When his curiosity was satisfied, — we, sitting upon thorns, 
thought it never would be. — he stowed us away in a kind of 
closet, behind his, bar, the entrance to which was not visible to 
any eye, 

" There," said he, closing the slide which had admitted us, 
" you can hear and see every thing which is done or said in 
this room. Mind you don't laugh when the Cholers come to 
search for you. You can smell the grog, too, and much good 
may it do you, for not a drop more will you get." 

Shortly after he went to the door, and returning, said, — 

"Just saved your distance, my lads; here come the Guar- 
dos." 

An instant after, four stout Chilians, (called by sailors, Cho- 
lers,) entered the room, and began to enquire for us,'giving an 
exact description of each. Johnson, however, had suddenly 
forgotten his Spanish, and replied to thein in English : 

" Gin did you say, gentlemen? There," placing a decanter 
of Hollands upon the counter, " help yourselves ; 'tis real stin- 
go ; just fit for Hidalgos like you." 

Not understanding him, and having no kind of objection to 
the gin, they each took a horn, and then repeated their de- 
mand for us. 



124 MY FIRST AND LAST FLOGGING. 

" The price, did you ask, gentlemen ?" continued Johnson, 
with immovable gravity ; " only two rials ;— that's nothing for 
you to pay." 

" No intende, iSenor" shouted the spokesman, out of all pa- 
tience. 

" No pennies, say you ?" answered Johnson ; " you should 
have thought of that before. Be oiF, you good-for-nothing ras- 
cals — vamos" — and rushing at them, he fairly put all hands of 
them to flight. 

Shortly afterwards, an English sailor came in, and told 
Johnson that two Americans had just run away from their 
ship, — adding, that two ounces were offered for their capture. 

" Two ounces, did you say ?" interrupted Johnson, eagerly. 
" I wish I could catch the rascals, for I am short of cash just 
now, and thirty-four dollars is not to be sneezed at ;" and every 
few minutes he would sing out, /or our especial benefit^ — 
"Thirty-four dollars ! Whew ! — think of that !" But we had 
no fear of him ; for, as every one does, he despised the Chilians 
so thoroughly, that he would not have delivered us to their 
rascally police on any terms ; so we remained quiet, enjoying 
the fun. 

At night he stowed us in a small room in an out-of-the-way 
part of his house, where we lay snugly for two days ; and if we 
had kept close, should have escaped easily. But one evening, 
about nine o'clock, when we had ventured into the bar-room 
for a drop of the comforter, and were comfortably discussing 
the same, an English sailor burst into the room, with his clothes 
torn, and figure-head Ttnocked to pieces, and sung out that a 
party of Choler-soldiers had kicked up a row on the Fore-top, 
(a tavern not far from the Main,) and were mauling the sail- 
ors at a deuce of a rate. There were about thirty of us present 
at this moment ; and without stopping for chat, we turned out, 
and made all sail for the Fore-top, dashing down one side of 
the steep ravine, which separates the two tops, and up the other, 
regardless of danger, and in five minutes were on the spot. 
We rushed in, flooring the Cholers right and left, and fought 



MY FIRST AND LAST FLOGGING. 125 

SO determinedly, that, in the tossing of a marlin-spike, they 
were all rolling down the hill. We then gave three cheers, « 
and " freshening the nip," the business of the evening, — dan- 
cing, etc., — was resumed ; while Ned and I hauled off, and 
bore away for Johnson's, to get under hatches again as quick 
as possible. 

We reached the bottom of the ravine in safety, and were 
about half way up the ascent, when we were attacked by six 
Chilian soldiers, who had recognized us in the room, and were 
awaiting us for that purpose. The rocks rose precipitously on 
one side of the zig-zag road, and descended in the same man- 
ner on the other, — gradually sloping away to the bottom. The 
Cholers had taken the inner side, and now rushed upon us, as 
if to roll us down the hill ; but before they mastered us, which, 
of course, with such odds, was done in a moment, we had the 
satisfaction of tossing two of them down the steep side of the 
hill, and hearing them bound along, from rock to rock, till 
they brought up in the brook at the bottom. 

We were then lashed hand and foot, and carried to the 
Calibosa, or common jail, — compared with which the Black- 
Hole of Calcutta would sink into insignificance, — and were 
pitched into the room usually occupied by men about to be 
hung. We landed, on our backs, about six feet from the en- 
trance, — and it was lucky for us that we did so ; for the soft 
mud was about a foot in depth, and had we plumped into it on 
our faces, bound as we were, we should have been smothered, 
to a surety. Here we lay till morning, and were then taken 
aboard the ship, 

" Well, gentlemen," said Captain Anderson, sneeringly, 
" what do you say now ?" 

" We say," said I, " that we will run away again the very 
first opportunity we get." 

" If you do," said he, " I will have you both again, if it costs 
me a hundred dollars." 

" You will spend some money, then," I replied ; '• for we will 
run away as often as we are caught." 



126 MY FIRST AND LAST FLOGGING. 

Ordering our lashings to be cut, he set us at work, and gave 
especial command to the mates not to allow us to go into any 
boat whatever. When night came, he had both the quarter- 
boats hoisted up, and then thought he was sure of us. But 
about midnight, the guard-boat, which pulls about the harbor 
night and day to prevent smuggling, came under' the bows of 
the ship, in compliance with our whispered hail, — and we, sli- 
ding down the cable, got aboard, and in five minutes were 
landed on the pier. 

Having shelled out the dollars, — for and in consideration 
of which these Senors had laid aside their dignity to assist us 
to escape, hoping to get the reward for our re-capture also, — 
we bore away for the Almendral. Passing this square, we 
turned into a narrow, crooked lane, which, after numberless 
bends, opened into a small square, surrounded by the vilest 
looking huts ever inhabited by human beings. The moon 
shining brightly, enabled us to find the right one easily, which 
we slowly and carefully entered. Being hailed by the old 
woman who was mistress of the palace, we gave the proper 
reply, viz : that we were runaway sailors, wanting to be hid, 
and able to pay for if, — and then came to anchor. 

The latter part of our story awakened all the good woman's 
sympathies, for she knew as well as any one could tell her, 
that eight rials make a peso ; and accordingly she made a move, 
struck a light, and produced some grog in less than no time. 
When we had taken a " stiff one," and told our story, she stowed 
us away in a little the most regular-built corner I ever saw. 
It was really a magnificent place, — large, airy, and comforta- 
ble : but I will not describe it farther, for fear that some mas- 
ter-at-arms will fall in with this article, and then he would 
know, what now he does not, where to find the oldest, best-re- 
gulated, and safest place of concealment for fellows under the 
weather, on the West coast of South America. 

The next day our old woman, — who, old and lame as she 
was, knew every thing which was done in the city, — informed 
us that two ounces were again offered for our capture ; " but," 



MY FIRST AND LAST FLOGGING. 127 

she continued, smiling, and shaking her head at us, " you need 
not be afraid ; it would ruin my business if either of you was 
taken from here, and you are, of course, safe enough." 

We remained l^ere ten days, and at the end of that time, she 
told us that the Jupiter had that morning sailed for Coquimbo. 
We felt safe enough now ; so we left our hiding-place, and 
giving the old lady a handsome lot of peso's, made sail for the 
Port. Cruising quietly along, we finally backed our main- 
topsail at a puUaperee opposite the custom-house, and were 
busy splicing the main-brace, when a dozen Chilian soldiers 
entered the shop, with fixed bayonets ; and as the forward 
fellows brought their guns to the charge, those astern took 
aim at us, politely assuring us, that if we moved an inch they 
would shoot us. As they evidently were in earnest, and there 
was no way of escape open, we instantly surrendered ; thank- 
ing them for their high opinion of our bravery, evinced by 
turning out the whole guard to capture us. 

For three days we again lay in the Calibosa, and on the 
fourth were put aboard a schooner bound for Coquimbo, — 
Captain Anderson having been cunning enough to leave his 
reward behind him, with orders that, if taken, we should be 
shipped to him there. This time, however, we were gentle- 
men passengers, and the weather being fair, and our allow- 
ance good, the two days' passage down was very pleasantly 
spent. As soon as we came to anchor, we were sent aboard 
the Jupiter, and Anderson, grinning with delight, desired to 
know what we thought now ? 

"We'll run away again in forty-eight hours," said I, — " ihafs 
what we think." 

" If I catch you at that again," he replied, " I'll shoot you." 

" Perhaps you will," was my answer, " but you'll have to 
CATCH us first." 

After swearing at us, he went about his business, and things 
came along as usual. This night the boats were secured, and 
the guard-boat bribed, so that Anderson thought he had us 
fast : but he was again mistaken— ior about eleven o'clock, as 



128 MY FIRST AND LAST FLOGGING. 

the ship lay about half a mile from the land, Ned and I slip- 
ped over the side, and swam ashore. On the pier we found a 
couple of fellows, who, like ourselves, were runaways, and 
knowing there was no safety for us in Coquimbo, we left the 
port, and avoiding the town, which lies five or six miles in- 
land, we struck at once into the mule path, that is dignified, 
by the name of the " High-road to Yalparaiso." One of our 
party had made this overland journey before, and under his 
pilotage, we crowded sail so effectually, that when daylight 
came we had passed the first range of hills. Coquimbo was 
hull-down astern, and on our left, in full view, and mantled in 
eternal snow, rose, peak above peak, the lofty Cordilleras. 

As the first rays of the rising sun glanced from the icy crests 
of the Andes, our pilot knocked at the door of a mud hut near 
the road-side, and asked, in tolerable Spanish, " for the love of 
God, some breakfast, for poor shipwrecked sailors." 

"Are you Christians?" (that is. Catholics,) demanded the 
brawny Chilian, who, knife in hand, answered our isummons. 

" Yes," replied Wilson^ our spokesman. 

" Come in, brothers," said he kindly, putting his knife in his 
pocket ; and welcoming us heartily, he set before us the best 
his house contained ; and when we had finished eating, he 
fairly compelled us to put what remained into our knapsacks. 
While he supposed us to be poor, our " faith" was our passport, 
and nothing was too much for us ; yet this same man, had we 
ofiered to pay him for our breakfast, would have killed us all, 
without an instant's hesitation, in order to rob us. Our appa- 
rent poverty was our best safeguard, while in reality we had in 
all about sixty dollars, which, as we loved life, we took good 
care to hide. 

Being well ballasted by our breakfast, we carried sail stoutly 
again, and as we joyously cruised along, we awakened the 
slumbering echoes of those everlasting hills, singing, in full 
chorus, the songs of the ocean — the national airs of England, 
and " the States." The grave Chilians were astounded by our 



MY FIRST AND LAST FLOGGING. 129 

merriment; and the country girls we fell in with looked over 
their shoulders more than once at the " happy Englishmen." 

At eight bellSj we came to, at a small hut near the road, and 
procured our dinner, by telling the same bouncer to which we 
owed our breakfast — that is, professing to be Catholics. Leav- 
ing the right and wrong of this for the chaplain to settle, I 
would only observe, that it was worth a glorious dinner to us, 
at any rate, and we braced up again much the better for it. 

At about four bells in the afternoon watch, the wind hauled to 
the North'ard and Eiist'ard, and the scuds beginning to fly, we 
were sodu aware that a storm of rain was coming. We there- 
fore crowded all sail in order to pass over a mountain which 
lay ahead of us, before it should begin ; and as the wind was 
right aft, we made fine headway. The sun set in clouds as 
we reached the summit of the mountain, and the next instant 
the storm which had been brewing, burst upon us in its fury. 
Our situation was decidedly imcomfortable, for, in addition to 
the sleet and rain, it was now quite dark ; and as Wilson in- 
formed us that the nearest house was ten miles distant, we 
called a council of war, and determined to heave to under the 
lee of the first large rock. Cruising along in search of one, we 
fell in with an old hut, the up-hill half of which was standing. 
As this would keep off all the wind, and most of the rain, we 
were overjoyed at our good luck ; and instantly coming-to, 
we collected a lot of dry sticks, struck a light, and were shortly 
chuckling over a fine fire. 

Having thawed ourselves, and partially dried our wet 
clothes, we opened our knapsacks, and piped to supper; and 
as our stores were by no means contemptible, we \vere perfect- 
ly happy. Our grub being properly stowed away, and our 
pipes smoked, we stirred up our fire, wrapped our pea-jackets 
about us, and bunking around it, were soon sound asleep, re- 
gardless of the storm, which now roared through the caverns, 
and around the cliffs of the Andes. 

It was about noon on the fourteenth day after we left Co- 
qqjmbo, — the overland route being about four hundred miles 

\7 



130 MY FIRST AND LAST FLOGGING, 

— that 'from the hills, twenty miles distant, we first saw Val- 
paraiso. The sight was a cheering one, and without pausing 
to admire the beauties of the view — one of the finest in the 
world — we hurried on, to reach that "Vale of Paradise" as 
soon as possible. When about six miles from the city, we 
were met by a Chilian officer and his servant, both on horse- 
back, and both armed. Thinking that we were deserters, he 
brought his rifle to bear, and ordered us to heave-to, and say 
where we were from, and where bound, and how we came 
so. 

Wilson stepped forward at once, and spun a long yarn right 
off the reel, the amount of which was, that we were part of the 
crew of a whaler, recently wrecked on the island of Juan Fer- 
nandez, — ^that we were taken from that island to Coquimbo 
by a Chilian coaster, and were now on our way to Valparaiso 
to get on board a ship. As Wilson's yarn hung together re- 
markably well, and as a whaler had been lately wrecked on 
Juan Fernandez, the Chilian officer, instead of shooting, pitied 
us; and praising us for our long walk, gave us a dollar a-piece 
to drink to our health and his, and then went on. As we 
passed the palace of the Governor, at the eastern end of the 
city, I observed, among the shipping in port, an American fri- 
gate ; and examining her more closely, I knew at once that 
she was the Java'. The sight of that vessel recalled, what in 
my more recent perils and troubles I had temporarily forgot- 
ten, the outrageous abuse I had sustained at the hand of her 
first'lieutenant, and my determination, at any rate, and at all 
hazards, to revenge it. But I was also reminded that, as a de- 
serter, my safety was especially endangered by being in the 
neighborhood of that frigate. I therefore had to lay at once a 
plan embracing my present security, my revenge, and my es- 
cape. It is true, I was supposed by the officers and crew to be 
drowned, — yet I might be recognized if seen, and it was neces- 
sary to avoid discovery, as the punishment for running away 
from the United States' service is a severe one. Accordingly, 
as the rest of the party were going to the Port, I left them at 



MY FIRST AND LAST FLOGGING. 131 

the Almendral, and took refuge with the old woman who had 
hidden me before. She gave me supper, and told me the 
news, some parts of which rendered it necessary for me to see 
Johnson, the keeper of the Main-top. 

The western part of the city of Valparaiso is built upon a 
narrow strip of land, behind which the hills rise abruptly eight 
or nine hundred feet. In some places the rise is precipitous ; 
while in others it is more gradual, admitting of zig-zag mule 
paths, on either side of the numerous ravines. Just before sun- 
set, I left my quarters, and taking the path leading over the 
hills, — because, being less frequented, I should be less liable 
to meet in it any one belonging to the Java, — I made all sail 
for the Main-top. On one part of this high bluff stands the 
house of the English Consul, and a short distance beyond, se- 
parated from it by a deep ravine, down which runs a brook 
and a path, upon still higher ground stand the ruins of a cas- 
tle, thrown down some years since by an earthquake. As I 
was passing along the terrace in front of the house of the En- 
glish Consul, I saw, coming out of the ruins towards me, three 
persons in the uniform of the United States' Navy. It was too 
late to retreat, and putting on a bold face, I went on as though 
I did not see them. As we came nearer, I recognized them 
all. Two of them were young midshipmen belonging to the 
Java, and the third was the first-lieutenant of that frigate \ 
They were without side-arms, and as the midshipmen were 
nothing, and White much smaller than I, I exulted in the cer- 
tainty that my time, as well as his, was come. They were in 
earnest conversation, and did not observe me till we met face 
to face, in the bottom of the ravine. 

The path here was very narrow, and White, without look- 
ing up, said haughtily : 

" Get out of the way, you, Sir !" 

Without a word of reply, I stepped forward, and grasping 
his collar firmly with my left hand, looked him steadily in the 
face. Returning my gaze, he at first attempted to extricate 
himself ; but as he began to recognize me, his efforts abated, 



132 MY FIRST AND LAST FLOGGING. 

and when the discovery was complete, he stood still, trembling 
in every limb, — sensible that he was in the power of one who 
had good cause to be his mortal enemy. He read his fate in 
the expression of my countenance, which every instant grew 
black with deadly hate. 

" Lieutenant "White," said I. at length, slowly and sternly, 
" I am that John Garnet, whom, two months ago, you shame- 
fully, and without cause, abused. It is now my time, and be- 
fore we part I will teach you a lesson which you shall remem- 
ber to the day of your death. Gentlemen," I continued, turn- 
ing to the midshipmen, " wiih you I have no quarrel, and it 
will be well for you not to meddle in this matter. Now then, 
Lieutenant," I added, planting my right fist heavily in his face, 
" take that, and that^ and that !" 

He struggled violently, but it was in vain, — for, nerved 
with passion, I had the strength of twenty men, — and continu- 
ing my merciless battery, I returned the taunting remarks he 
had formerly made to me : 

" Is your appetite better now ? My respects to you, Sir, — 
does your face feel warm ?" — and I showered my blows upon 
his visage until it was bruised out of the form of humanity, 
and he, entirely senseless, was only upheld by ray arm. 

All this while the middies stood near, — too proud to run, 
yet not daring to meddle in the fight. Having thus given 
him "an appetite," and satisfied my own, I touched my hat to 
the reefers, and dashed down the ravine ; for Valparaiso was 
now no place for me. 

A whaler was standing off-and-on at the mouth of the har- 
bor, and as I reached the pier, her boat was shoving off. 
Without a word of explanation, I jumped into it, and in an 
hour was safe aboard the ship, standing out to sea. 



CRUISE OF A GUINEA-MAN. 
PART I. 

PUBLISHED IN THE KNICKERBOCKER MAGAZINE, 
JANUARY, 1835. 



"Jack Garnet,"^ quoth Tom Seyraour/as we stood 'upon 
Pier No 1. North River, one afternoon in July IS—, " do you 
see my brig, yonder ? She is a sweet craft ; carries twenty 
long-eighteens. and a long forty-two, besides two twenty- four 
pound carronades on the poop, and two on the forecastle; — 
two hundred men, who are stationed and quartered as in men- 
of-war ; three officers, whom I call, for ^un's sake, second, and 
third lieutenants, and master ; and half-a-dozen boys for reef- 
ers. Now I want a First Lieutenant, and you are the very fel- 
low. Ship with me, and we'll run down to the Trades in ten 
dajT-s, and then, — whew ! Go away salt water ! She is a Bal- 
timore clipper, sails like the devil, and ,will put the wind's 
eye out on a bowline. Give her one point free, and she's oft 
like a shot. Will you go ?" 

"Thank you," I replied, "I am somewhat ticklish about the 
neck. I would rather be hung round the toaist. You are too 
strong to be honest ; and when you are on blue-water, you 
will make some mistake on the subject of property ; and then 
the first man-of-war you fall in with, will string you all up at 
her yard-arm, and that's an elevation for which I am in no wise 
ambitious. I would rather die in my bed when the time comes." 



134 CRUISE OF A GUINEA-MAN. 

" Well," replied Tom, " I am sorry you are so particular 
about your cravats : but will you go on board, and take a 
look at her? I hove-short this morning, and shall trip my 
anchor in half an hour, and go to sea. Come, I'll leave you at 
Quarantine. 

We jumped into his boat, (a twelve-oared cutter,) and pull- 
ed for the brig. As we neared it, a Boatswain's call " piped 
the side ;" four side-boys manned the gangway as we passed 
over, and we were received upon deck in true man-o'-war 
fashion. 

"Why, Captain Seymour", said I, " you have a regular man- 
of-war brig here." 

" Yes," he replied, leading the way to his cabin, " she's a 
Johnny War. Mr. Carline," (second lieutenant,) " hoist in 
boats, and get ready for weighing anchor. Sir." 

" Now, Garnet," he continued, as we were drinking wine in 
the cabin, " you had better re-consider, and go with me. You 
can make your fortune in one cruise on the coast of Africa, 
where we are bound." 

" Save your breath to cool your porridge, friend Seymour," 
said I, " for I tell you flatly, I will not go ; and you may as 
well set your mind at ease on that point, for I have no more 
dodge about me than the main-mast." 

At this instant, a reefer reported all ready for weighing 
anchor. 

" Call all hands up anchor, then," said he. " Garnet, will 
you take the trumpet, just to oblige me ? I have some writing 
to do before we leave the port." 

I took the deck, accordingly. The capstan was manned, 
the anchor run up, and sail made; and with a smacking 
breeze from the North- West, we dropped down the bay. Just 
before we reached the Quarantine, Seymour came on deck :— 

. " Captain Seymour," said I, " you will please take com- 
mand: I wish to be set on shore here. Port, Quarter-master. 
Boatswain's-mate, call away Third- cutters." 



CRUISE OP A GUINEA-MAN. 135 

" Belay all !" interrupted Seymour. " Lieutenant Garnet, 
you are in for it, and shall go with me, any how." 

" Perhaps I shall," said I, despatching the trumpet at his 
head, as I walked forward to the starboard-gangway to look 
out for a shore-boat. There was none near, and look- 
ing aft, I saw Seymour clear away the end of the main- 
royal-halyard, and tie in it a running-bowline. That ma- 
noeuvre showed me there was no time to be lost, and as we 
were now in the Narrows, and within a hundred yards of the 
Staten-Island shore, I buttoned my round-about, and hailing 
Seymour, '• Here goes for the coast of Africa !" jumped over- 
board, and struck out for the land. 

Seymour, however, was as wide-awake as I, and as I rose to 
strike out the second time, his running-bowline came over my 
head, caught me round the body, and I was hauled on board 
before I knew what was the matter. 

" There," said he, laughing, as he met me at the gangway, 
" you see I am a bit of a Guacho, and can throv/ a lasso on a 
pinch. You are hung round the waist, now, just as you 
wished not long since." 

My reply to his wit, was a blow with my fist, which tumbled 
him across the deck in fine style ; but before I could repeat it, 
I was overpowered, and being taken upon the poop, was lash- 
ed hand and foot to a carronade. 

" Now then. Lieutenant Garnet," said Seymour, " when we 
get out of sight of land, I'll loose you ; but if I were to do it 
sooner, I'm afraid you would be overboard again." 

As I could not do battle, I quietly submitted to my fate, 
because swearing would do no good. So now behold me, 
bound for foreign parts, — First Lieutenant of a brig-of-war, — 
anchored head and stern athwart-ships of a carronade. As 
we passed the forts, the first object which met our view was 
the frigate Constellation, at anchor in the lower bay ! 

" The devil !" said Seymour, clapping a spy-glass to his 
eye, — " she dropped down yesterday, and had, I supposed, 
gone to sea. I remember they looked at me pretty hard as 



136 CRUISE OF A GUINEA-MAN. 

hey passed me at anchor, and now they are waiting to catch 
me. l'!l weather them yet." 

As we neared the frigate, I observed some motion aboard 
of her ; and in an instant after, all the ports of her main-gun- 
deck, on the starboard side, (the side towards us, as she rode 
at anchor,) were taken out, and the tompions of all that batte- 
ry followed. 

"Do you see that. Captain Seymour?" said I, smiling. 

" I do. Lieutenant Garnet," was his reply. " Port, Ctuarter- 
master." 

" Port, Sir." 

" Mr. Carline," he continued, take the deck. Sir, while I 
uniform. Keep her head for the stern of that frigate." 

He went into the cabin, and in a moment re-appeared, in 
the full uniform of the United States' Navy, cocked hat, sword, 
a pair of pistols in his belt, and a cigar in his mouth. As he 
came upon the poop, a sheet of red tiame glanced from one of 
the Constellation's ports, which was followed by the emphatic 
report of a thirty-two-pounder. The ball, by accident of 
course, struck our cutwater, and made us minus a figure- 
head. 

"The English of that," said Seymour, "is 'Come-to, you 
rascal.' Since my friend, the Commodore, wishes it, I'll do 
that thing. Port, Quarter-master. Keep her for the bows of 
the Constellation. Loose royals and to'-gallan' sails, for we've 
a stiff breeze, and I have no idea of being afraid of them. 
Send up our black ensign, Signal-Quarter-master, at the peak, 
fore and main, and under it the American flag ! There !" 
smacking his lips, as that dread banner floated gaily on the 
breeze, over the stars and stripes, that will do better. " Lieu- 
tenant Garnet, what say you ?" 

" Go to the devil !" I replied, for I was not in the best of 
humor. 

" If I do, Lieutenant John Garnet," said he complacently, 
" I have the satisfaction of knowing that you will sail in com- 
pany." 



CRUISE OF A GUINEA-MAN. 137 

" Cast loose both batteries," he continued, " and load each a 
round shot, a stand of grape and cannister, and fill the long 
forty-two to the muzzle." 

When we were about two hundred yards from the frigate, 
dashing ahead at ten knots, he ordered the drums to beat to 
quarters, took his stand upon the starboard-quarter rail to cun 
the brig, and sung out, — 

" Slack the lee-braces, — Round-in the weather ones, — Star- 
board the helm, hard-a-starboard !" 

We fell off before the wind, and passed abreast the Con- 
stellation, as she rode head to the wind, so closely, that the 
muzzles of her long main-deckers almost touched our bul- 
warks. The captain of the Constellation stood abaft upon the 
signal-locker ; and Seymour, coolly tossing his cigar upon her 
deck, hailed him : 

" Brother Commodore, if you are short of hands, I'll lend 
you a hundred, and take payment in round shot and cannis- 
ter." 

" Commodore Montague," /hailed, " I am detained here by 
force. Compel my release, Sir." 

" Heave-to, you Sir," said Montague to Seymour, " and send 
that man aboard of me, instantly." 

" I'll see you — ^ — first," was Seymour's resolute reply. 

"Heave-to, instantly," repeated Montague, "or I'll sink 
you !" 

" Do it, and be -- — - to you," replied Seymour, drawing his 
cutlass in defence. " Man the starboard-battery ! Port, hard- 
a-port, — Stand-by, — Mind the weather roll, — Fire !" 

We passed under the Constellation's stern, raking her, as 
each gun came to bear, dismounting her stern-chasers, and 
clearing her main-gun deck, entirely, for the moment. 

" Starboard the helm !" hailed Seymour, firing a pistol at 
Montague. 

We fell off before the wind, and keeping the Constellation's 
three masts in one, made all sail for the bar, there being no 
time for chat, as she of course would instantly slip her cable, 

18 



138 CRUISE OP A GUINEA-MAN. 

and bring her broadside to bear. Our fears were groundless, 
though Seymour's matchless effrontery was all that saved 
him. While the Constellation's guns actually bore upon us, 
they were restrained from firing, by their amazement at the 
impudence of the " little fellow ;" and, at this moment, they 
could not lire if they would. Their capstan -bars were ship- 
ped, and every thing was in readiness for weighing anchor, 
when we hove in sight; but our strange conduct perplexed 
Captain Montague, and our raking broadside completely non- 
plussed him. Our shot unshipped his capstan -bars, cut up his 
messenger, and totally demolished the bitts where the cable 
was belayed ; in consequence of which, the cable ran out until 
it was brought up by getting foul in the hause-hole, and there 
it was jammed perfectly fast. 

The combination of so many urmsual events produced an 
unwonted result ; and for the first time since tar and oakum 
came into fashion, an United States' ship was in confusion ; 
and before order was restored, we were across the bar, and 
nearly out of shot, without the loss of a man. Perceiving 
that I might as well make the best of a bad bargain, I hailed 
Seymour : — 

" Cut these lashings, Tom ; I will do as you wish, since I 
can't avoid it." 

" You are a clever fellow, Garnet," said he, complying with 
my request ; "I like your spunk. You are just the man to be 
my First Lieutenant : will you take that command ?" 

" I will," said I, " and I'll be obeyed and respected accord- 
ingly." 

"It is a bargain," he replied, grasping my hand ; and turn- 
ing to his crew, he informed them of my elevation, and com- 
manded their obedience. 

" The Constellation has slipped her cable, Sir," reported the 
Signal-Q,uarter-master, " and is making all sail in chase." 
" Yery good," answered Seymour, '• she cannot catch us." 
" You are wrong there," said I, " she brings the breeze with 



CRUISE OF A GUINEA-MAN. 139 

her, and as it will soon blow a gale, she will have the advan- 
tage." 

"Night is coming on," said Seymour, " and we'U dodge them.. 
That we can do at any rate." 

" You will please to remember. Captain Seymour," said I, 
" that you have a Yankee to deal with ; and moreover, the fel- 
lows whose skins you chafed with grape and cannister will 
feel rather touchy, and keep a bright look-out." 

"Ay," he replied, smiling, "and the Commodore too, will 
like an opportunity to return my pistol-shot. Take the deck, 
Garnet, while I work up my reckoning, and make my will." 

It was now growing dark, and the arriiy of clouds in the 
North-West, and the increasing swell of the sea, plamly show- 
ed that a gale was coming. It was therefore necessary to get 
all the start we could before it came on to blow ; for in a 
gale, the Constellation, being larger and heavier, could carry 
sail longer than we, and of course would overtake us. I ac- 
cordingly gave orders to set fore and main-royals, and fore 
and main-topmast-sluddin'-sails, and as she bore that well, I 
added to'-gallan'-studdin'-sails, boarded the starboard-tacks, 
and putting her head South by East, we were off at twelve 
knots an hour. 

It was now nearly dark, but with our night-glasses we 
could see the Constellation under sky-sails, and royal-studdin'- 
sails, steering directly for us, with the speed and the fury of 
an avalanche. 

" Well," said Seymour, watching her with his spy-glass, 
"unless Montague takes in his sky-sails and royal-studdin'-s'ls 
pretty soon, he will have the royal-masts over the side, for the 
breeze is much fresher with him than with us." 

At this moment a heavy squall struck the Constellation, 
and as soon as it cleared up, the Signal-Q,uarter-master re- 
ported that her sky-sails and royal-studdin'-s'ls were blown 
away. 

" That's good news," said Seymour, chuckling : " Garnet, 
we'll distance them yet." 



140 CRUISE OF A aUINEA-MAN. 

" She has bent new sky-sails, Sir," reported the Quarter- 
master, a moment after. 

" The devil she has !" said Tom, stopping short in his 
walk, — " why, she's in earnest. Set our royal-studdin'-s'ls, 
and sky-sails, Mr. Garnet, — we'll pull foot." 

I obeyed the order, and away we went, with our studdin'- 
sail tacks, and royal, and sky-sail back-stays, as taut as bars 
of iron. 

For a while, nothing material happened, and each about 
held her own ; but at two bells in the evening-watch, the Con- 
stellation's sky-sails, and royal-studdin'-s'ls blew away, and 
the sky-sail masts went overboard. 

" That is a fair hint," observed Seymour : " Mr. Garnet, 
we'll save our sky-sails, and royal-studdin'-s'ls. Take them 
in, Sir." 

The order was obeyed, and for a moment the brig was easi- 
er, — but the wind freshening very much, we were obliged 
soon after to furl the royals ; and, shortening sail as it became 
necessary, at four bells in the evening-watch we were under 
main-to'-gallant-s'l, while the frigate had all three to'-gallant- 
sails, and main-royal standing, coming on " hand over fist." 
At six bells she was within range of our long forty-two, — a 
heavier gun than any she carried. It being run out at a stern- 
port, Seymour pointed it himself, and, watching the send-for- 
ward, fired. The ball struck the frigate's figure-head, scatter- 
ing it about in fine style. 

^' There," said Seymour, laughing, " we are even now. She 
knocked my figure-head to pieces in the bay, and now I've 
given her as good." 

After we had fired a few times, the frigate's bow-chasers be- 
gan to give tongue 5 and, each hoping to disable the other, 
shots were exchanged with great gusto, although it was too 
dark to see the effect. But, in spite of every thing, she con- 
tinued to gain upon us, and at two bells in the mid- watch 
was within two miles of us, the wind blowing a gale, under 
whole top-sails and courses, while we had a reef in each. 



CRUISE OP A GUINEA-MAN. 141 

As a last refuge, we bore off before the wind, continuing to 
blaze away with our long forty-two, while she, as we kept her 
three masts in one, could not fire a shot ; but, although our 
shot evidently told, they did not do much mischief. 

At four bells in the mid-watch, she was within half-a-mile, 
and was preparing to give us a broadside, which would 
have paid off all scores, when a tremendous squall suddenly 
came over, and it became entirely dark. 

We hauled our wind instantly, boarded our larboard-tacks, 
put out every light, and kept silence fore-and-aft. The fri- 
gate, not aware of that manoeuvre, continued her course, and 
in five minutes dashed past us, and we were safe, being dead 
to windward. It continued very dark for half an hour, and 
v/hen it finally cleared up a little, the Constellation was near- 
ly hull-down in the South-East. So we escaped her that 
time, and when we had stood North-East long enough, we 
squared away, and as the gale moderated, made all sail for 
the South'ard and East'ard. 



A few days after these occurrences, the look-out aloft, one 
morning, reported a sail ahead, crossing our course. 

" Keep her away for that vessel. Sir," said Seymour, to the 
officer of the deck, " and call all hands to make sail," 

Taking the deck, as, according to man-of-war rules, it was 
my duty to do when all hands were called, I made all sail a 
trifle quicker than lightning, and then surrendered the trum- 
pet to the officer of the watch. 

The stranger, perceiving that we were chasing him, made 
all sail to avoid us ; but it was not so easy to escape, when it 
put the wind out of breath to keep up with us ; and accordingly 
we were very soon so near, that they, in obedience to our sig- 
nal-gun, hove-to. We hove-to also, and a boat being lowered 
and manned, Seymour said to me : 

" When I wave my handkerchief. Garnet, send up our black 
ensign at the main, and fire a gun across that fellow's bows ;" 
and jumping into the boat, he boarded the stranger, whom we 



142 CRUISE OP A GUINEA-MAN. 

now perceived was an outward-bound English West-Indiaman. 
We were so near, that [ distinctly saw all his motions. Leav- 
ing the crew in the boat, he boarded the Englishman alone, 
and meeting her captain at the gangway, he saluted him very 
politely, and took a turn or two with him upon deck, as if in- 
quiring the news. Shortly after, however, he apparently made 
some disagreeable remark, for they both stopped, and began 
to gesticulate violently, as if their discourse was becoming 
interesting; and Seymour, drawing his handkerchief from his 
pocket, carelessly waved it, by way of accenting his discourse. 
Instantly the sable banner of piracy floated at the mast-head, 
and an eighteen-pound- shot, travelling across the Englishman's 
fore-foot, put an end to his opposition, and he began to exe- 
cute Seymour's mandates. A lot of kegs was shortly after 
passed into our beat, in a manner which showed that, at the 
least, they were heavy, and Seymour, courteously bidding 
Captain Bull adieu, pulled aboard. 

" Hoist those up carefully, my lads," said he. 

" What have you there, Captain Seymour ?" I inquired. 

" Only a few thousand guineas, Lieutenant Garnet," he re- 
plied, " which I borrowed from that ship." 

" He'll be lucky," said I, "if he ever gets his pay." 



One morning, about forty-five days after we left New- York, 
we made land in the Gulf of Guinea. Crowding all sail, we 
rapidly approached it, and were within five or six miles, when 
a long, low, black, suspicious-looking schooner, shot out from 
behind a small island, a short distance ahead, and, without 
asking any questions, bore down for us. 

" Ready about, ready, ready !" hailed Seymour, with start- 
ling quickness, seizing the trumpet. The helm was put down, 
and in an instant we were on the other tack, standing out to sea. 

" I know her !" ejaculated Seymour, — "she is an English 
man-of-war, and is commanded by one of the sharpest rascals 
that ever drew pay and rations. He calls his schooner the 
' Dare-devil,' and no name was ever so appropriate, for both 



CRUISE OP A GUINEA-MAN. 143 

master and vessel. He attacks every thing, large and small ; 
laughs at. steel and gunpowder, and I do not believe he knows 
what fear is. The world is not wide enough to hold both of 
us, and come what may, there will be one rascal less on the 
seas at sunset. I have sworn vengeance against him, and I 
will take it so amply, that none shall live to report to the 
Lords of the Admiralty in what manner one of his Majesty's 
cruisers went to the devil." 

When we were twelve or fifteen miles from the land, we 
tacked again, and although the breeze was a stiff one, set every 
inch of canvass and stood in for the shore. The schooner 
continued her course, and standing on opposite tacks, we ra- 
pidly neared each other. Our ports were closed, and as we 
made no use of our guns, the English evidently supposed that 
what appeared to be long-eighteeus, were actually quaker- 
guns, made of the best of wood, — for show, not use, — and that 
our plan was to cross their hawse, and run in-shore. 

As soon as we were within range, they opened upon us 
with a long twenty-four; and. to do them justice, they tossed 
their iron with most terrible exactness and considerable effect ; 
but as her shot hulled us, they did not interfere with Sey- 
mour's plan. 

Ordering the men to lie down upon deck, to avoid the En- 
glishman's fire, he continued to walk upon the poop as com- 
posedly as if he were ball-proof; although, as her battery, 
(long-twelves,) began to take effect, the shot flew thick as hail, 
tearing open our bulwarks, and knocking the white splinters 
about igi every direction. As we approached still nearer, her 
musketry opened upon us in full volley ; yet although he was 
the target for every shot, he seemed totally unconscious of 
danger. With a flushed cheek, and an eye flashing fire, he 
stood proudly erect, and delivered his orders to the men-at- 
the-wheel. as composedly as if he were setting a studdin'-saiL 

When our flying-jib-boom was nearly locking with hers, he 
suddenly shouted, with a voice like a trumpet-call, — " Star- 
board THE HELM !" We fell off from the wind, and, rising 



144 CRUISE OF A GUINEA-MAN. 

upon a wave, our heavy bows struck the fated vessel amid- 
ships, with a tremendous crash. We passed clean over, cut- 
ting her completely in two : an unearthly yell arose from an 
hundred and fifty brave fellows, as they sunk quick to the 
bottom ; and when we flew aft to catch a glimpse of the wreck, 
nothing was visible, save the pennant at the main-to'-gallan'- 
masthead, which for an instant floated upon the surface of the 
deep, and was then drawn down after the hapless wretches, 
who had so often shed their blood in its defence ! 

Having passed the vortex caused by her going down, the 
brig was hove- to, — as I supposed, for the purpose of picking 
up the survivors, if there were any. But such was not Sey- 
mour's plan, — and one poor fellow, who, stunned and strang- 
ling, rose to the surface, clinging to a spar for dear life, was 
not even allowed the miserable privilege of floating upon it, 
until the sharks, or the burning sun of the Equator, should 
put a period to his agony, but was deliberately shot by Sey- 
mour himself, acting upon the stern maxim that " dead men 
tell no tales." A deed of so dark a hue was never before per- 
petrated under the azure sky, nor on the deep sea, since the 
unborn surges slumbered in chaos, and darkness lay upon the 
face of the deep. 

" Mr. Garnet," said Seymour, recovering his rifle as coolly 
as if he had been shooting a duck, '• fill the main-top-sail, and 
stand in- shore." 

Three times 1 raised the trumpet to my lips, to give the ne- 
cessary orders, and as often withdrew it, — and finally, being 
totally unable to command either my voice or my feelings, 
I dashed it down upon deck, and walked away without a 
word. 

Seymour looked up at me in surprise, and then, deliberately 
picking up the trumpet, gave the requisite commands with his 
usual composure. When we were under- way, standing for the 
shore, he ordered the boatswain to call " all hands to splice the 
main-brace," remarking, that the toast should be, "Here's 
wishing the Dare-devils a pleasant passage to !" 



CRUISE OP A GUINEA-MAN. 145 

" Garnet," said Seymour, when we were about three miles 
from the shore, " do you see that head-land yonder, in the 
SoLith-East ? It is the Northern cape of the bay which we shall 
enter, and is now sixteen miles distant. I wish you to observe 
the course we take to fetch it, and then say if this coast was 
not cut out for the express benefit of the slave-trade." 

We continued our course, steerino; head-on, until within 
half a mile of the shore, and then hauled our wind, and put 
her head due South, keeping parallel to the beach. About ten 
minutes afterwards, the look-out, on the fore-topsail-yard, sung 
out: — 

" Breakers, ahead !" 

Seymour was standing upon the poop, looking astern : he 
turned short round at this announcement, and hailed :— - 

" Fore-topsail-yard, there ! Two points on the starboard 
bow, you lubber, distant two miles." 

" Captain Seymour," said I, in surprise, " your eye-sight is 
better than mine. Those breakers are not visible from the 
deck." 

"I know it," he replied, "but I am as well acquainted 
witli every inch of this coast as you are with the pavements 
of Broadway. I could sail a line-of-battle-ship through this 
channel, in perfect safety, the darkest night old ocean ever 
saw, by the lead alone. Straight as you go. Quarter-master." 

" Dise, no higher," repeated he at the cun. 

" These breakers," continued Seymour, '-are caused by a 
reef of rocks, running across the mouth of that bay, and stretch- 
ing ten miles each way, parallel to the beach, and distant from 
it, oLi tlie averaije, half a mile. Inside the reef we have a clear, 
safe channel, carrying ten fathom water, to within a ship's- 
length of the beach, and at both ends a safe entrance. Now 
all this is for our particular benefit ; for, in order to enter that 
bay, a vessel must go all this distance around ; and while a 
man-of-war comes in at one end, we can slip out at the other. 
If this does not prove that Jemmy Flatfoot had a hand in lay- 
ing out the coast of Africa, you may call me a marine." 

19 



146 CRUISE OF A GUINEA-MAN. 

" Pretty good reasoning, friend Seymour," said I : " you've 
made it very plain that the Devil is chief cook and bottle- 
washer for the slave-trade. I don't wonder it prospers so well, 
since he is at the wheel." 

We were now inside the reef, — and, sailing along rapidly, 
were within a mile of the entrance to the bay. when a small 
canoe shoved off from the shore, and wc were boarded by one 
of the most hideous-looking black rascals that ever walked on 
two feet. Running up the side like a monkey, he tumbled 
over the gangway, and accosted Seymour, who met him therej 
as an old friend ; and after jabbering away a few minutes in 
some barbarous lingo, he took a bottle of rum, which Seymour 
had ordered for him, rolled into his canoe, and run it high and 
dry on the beach. He brought himself to anchor in the sand, 
and began to discuss the contents of the said bottle with an 
earnestness which plainly showed that they two would not 
part company until one or t'other knocked under. 

" Mr, Garnet," said Seymour, walking aft, " my good friend 
there has informed me, that there are now two English fri- 
gates at anchor in the bay. I must send them both to sea in 
twenty minutes after I enter. Do you speak Portuguese ?" 

" /Sb Senhor," said I, " and every other language ; excepting, 
always, the gibberish of that black friend of yours." 

"Very good," he replied, "I shall report myself to the Eng- 
lish as Don So-and-so. (with a string of titles as long as the 
main-to'-bowline,) commander of the Brazilian brig-of-war, 
Achille, 24, on a cruise ; and will spin them a yarn, which 
will clear the bay of them as soon as they can up anchor. I 
have Brazilian uniforms for all the officers and myself, which 
we will bend now, and walk into the bay under Brazilian 
colors." 

We rigged ourselves accordingly, and mustering upon the 
poop, sailed into harbor, with the Brazilian ensign at the peak. 
It was quite small, and the English frigates were at anchor, 
near the centre of it, some distance asunder. Gradually short- 
ening sail, we backed our main-topsail abreast the Commo- 



CRUISE OP A GUINEA-MAN. 147 

dore's ship, within about two hundred yards ; and when we 
had lost head-way, I roared out in Portuguese, — (for their 
edification :) 

" Let go the starboard anchor !" — twisting the w's and the 
o's and the r'5 about in every direction. We then furled 
sails, squared the yards by the lifts and braces, hooked the 
yard-tackles, hoisted our boats, and manning the Captain's 
barge with Portuguese, Seymour pulled aboard the English 
flag-ship. He was received with the usual honors, and had 
been on board but a few minutes, when three small flags were 
run up at the mizen, and a gun fired to awake the other fri- 
gate. Not being conversant with the English code of signals, 
I did not know what to make of this, when an old Quarter- 
master, who had served under Nelson, perceiving my igno- 
rance, informed me that it was, " Hoist in boats, and prepare 
to weigh." 

The English ships were now all alive. Boat after boat was 
dropped alongside from the guess-warp, and hoisted in, two at 
a time, (one each side,) decks cleared up, and capstans man- 
ned. At this moment Seymour came over the gangway of the 
flag-ship, and as he shoved off", the Brazilian flag was sent up 
at the fore, and saluted widi eleven guns. We returned the 
salute, — British ensign at the fore, with the same nuiuber, — 
and as they, having weiglied anchor, swept past us, making 
sail, we gave them three cheers, which were duly returned. 

"Seymour," said I, when the bustle was over, "what did 
you tell that fellow?" 

" Oh !" said he, recovering breath after a severe fit of laugh- 
ter, "it was not any of your land-yarns, slack-twisted stufi"; 
it was an out-and-outer. When I first boarded her, I began 
by asking, very coolly, in Portuguese, what were the names of 
the frigates, where they were from, and where bound, and 
whom I had the honor of addressing, etc. The crusty old 
Commodore, having answered my questions in as few words 
as possible, in Spanish, desired to know the same of me, and 
asked if I could speak English. But devil the bit of English 



148 CRUISE OF A GUINEA-MAN. 

could I speak : ' No intendcz Englise, Senhor,^ said I, with a 
face as long as the jib-downhanl, and then proceeded to tell 
him that my name was 'Don So-and-so,' that my brig- was the 
Brazilian brig-of-war Achille, on a cruise ; that we fell in, this 
morning, with a suspicious looking schooner, mounting eigh- 
teen guns, under English colors, and gave her chase ; but as 
she stood out to sea, and sailed very fast, we had given over 
the chase, because we had been on short allowance of water 
for ten days, and had only one day's allowance left, and dared 
not stand out until we had filled : that I came in here for a 
supply, and intended to sail the next day, and catch the slaver 
if possible, and sling up the rascals at my yard-arm ; and 
added, by way of clincher, that I wished they would not trou- 
ble themselves about her, but leave her for me, as I had set 
my heart on sendmg her to the bottom. 

" ' That will do for marines,' said the Commodore to his First 
Lieutenant, in English ; ' on short allowance of water, mdeed ! 
If he had sard short allowance of courage, he would have 
come nearer the truth. He was afraid the slaver would be a 
Scotch prize to him, if he meddled with her. He will take the 
best of good care not to chase her again. He set his heurt on 
sending them to the bottom, indeed ! — ha, ha, ha !' And the old 
knight laughed loud and long at my bravado. Then, turning 
to me, he asked in Spanish all about the schooner, when I 
saw her, the course she was steering, when I lost sight of her, 
etc., and ended by ordering his First Lieutenant to hoist in 
boats, and prepare to weigh, making signal to the other frig- 
ate to do the same. He then talked about matters and things ; 
asked, and told the news ; and when I took leave, waited on 
me to the gangway very politely, expressing his sorrow that 
he had not time to visit me, but hoped that, as I should sail to- 
morrow, we should meet on the sea, and perhaps have the 
pleasure of capturing the pirate together ; adding, with a 
wink to his First Lieutenant, which nearly capsized ray grav- 
ity, that nothing would gratify him more than to fight in such 
valiant company. So much for so much," continued Sey- 



CRUISE OP A GUINEA-MAN. 149 

monr, bursting into a roar of laughter, in which all hands 
heartily joined, — " Hurrah for John Bull !" 

But perhaps I am getting a little prosy, — so I'll belay for 
awhile, and spin the remainder of my yarn in another 
number. 



CRUISE OF A GUINEA-MAN, 
PART 11. 

PUBLISHED IN THE KNICKERBOCKER MAGAZINE, 
FEBRUARY, 1835. 



By the time our mirth had subsided, the English frigates 
were out of sight, having doubled the Northern point of the 
bay. Seymour having satisfied himself of this fact, said to 
me : 

" All hands up anchor ! Mr. Garnet, this bay is no place 
for us." 

After giving the requisile orders in preparation, I desired 
to know for what purpose he weighed, and whitlier we were 
bound. 

" We are going up the river, to be sure," he replied, " in 
order to get our live lumber aboard," 

" I see no river," said I, looking carefully around the bay. 

" I will show it to you in fifteen minutes," answered Sey- 
mour : " so now up anchor, for the wind is fair, and we've 
no time to lose," 

The anchor was soon at the bows, and sail being made, we 
stood for the head of the bay, which, as I have already said, 
was quite small, — about three miles in length, and one in 
width at the mouth, — narrowing, of course, towards the head. 
The land around it was considerably elevated, and densely 



CRUISE OF A GUINEA-MAN. 151 

covered with tall man^roveSj — and no where could I see the 
least indication of a river, — the coast of the bay being of an 
uniform elevation. We went on, however, with all sail set, — 
and as we neared the head of the bay, I observed that the 
water did not shoal so much as usual, but still 1 saw nothing 
of the river. When about a cable's length from the beach, 
Seymour sung out : 

"Man the starboard braces, — slack the larboard ones, — 
square away !" 

We continued our course an instant longer, and then put- 
ting up the helm, doubled a point, and entered an inlet, which 
stretched inland towards the North-East, while our course from 
the mouth of the bay had been due East. It was exceedingly 
narrow, — so much so, indeed, that it seemed impossible for 
two large ships to lie abreast in any part of it, and especially 
at the entrance. The tide was now coming in, and the wind 
being fair, we sailed quietly along, and were about half way 
through the channel, when the leadsman in the chains, who 
had been lazily reporting five, and four and a half fathom, 
suddenly came out with "A quarter-less-three," and an instant 
after, "A half two." 

"Well, Mr. Garnet," said Seymour, smiling at my sudden 
start, caused by this announcement, " do you think we are 
aground? This channel above us carries fifteen feet water 
to the bank on both sides, and is perfectly clear. There you 
see Jimmy Flatfoot again, — for a line-of- battle ship could 
come into it easy enough, but the next thing they knew they 
would be fast in the mud, while we, drawing less than fifteen 
feet, slip along unhurt. You had better have your eyes about 
you now, for we may be obliged to fight our way out of here, 
yet." 

For half a mile, the narrow channel was perfectly straight, 
but at the end of that distance, it formed an angle of forty-fiVe 
degrees, and on doubling the point, we found ourselves in a 
fine, wide river, which stretched away to the Eastv/ard as far 
as the eye could reach. 



152 CRUISE OP A GUINEA-MAN. 

"Now, John Garnet," said Seymour, " here is a river for 
you. which would not suffer much alongside of the Hudson, 

and moreover, Main chains there ! What water have 

you ?" 

The leadsman hove, and sung out : " By the mark, five." 

" Do you hear that ?" continued Seymour : " you see there 
is no want of water here." 

" Yes," I replied, " and I am now convinced that your friend 
blocked out this place for our especial benefit." 

Shortly after, we came to anchor near the North bank of the 
river, and about two miles from the last angle. On this bank 
was a collection of miserable mud huts, called a town ; and 
firing a gun to awake them, we soon had the governor thereof 
on board, an unforgotten mortal, who, after confabulating 
awhile with Seymour, promised him that our freight should 
" have quick despatch," as he had half a cargo in store, and 
knew where to catch the rest. Tlien, being a large man in 
his way, he " punished" a quart of half-and-half, and, undis- 
turbed by the trifling potation, took a ten-gallon keg, — jumped 
into his canoe, and went on his errand of love. 

About noon of the fourth day after our arrival, as we lay 
quietly at anchor waiting our cargo, Seymour, who had been 
ashore, returned aboard in great haste, and ordered me to call 
all hands up anqhor, Vvrhich being done, we were towed down 
stream, and anchored again jnst above the angle in the river. 

"Now then, Mr. Garnet," said Seymour, "get a spring on 
the cable, and slew us round, so that our starboard battery 
will command that entrance, for I have just been informed 
that three English men-of-war, (a shipof-the-line, and two fri- 
gates,) are entering the bay." 

" If it be so," said I, " they cannot get more than half way 
up the narrow channel, as you well know." 

. " Ay," he replied, " but their boats, my man, — their boats 
can come up." 

The spring was accordingly applied to the cable, and our 
broadside brought to bear upon the entrance of the before- 



CRUISE OF A GUINEA-MANc 153 

mentioned channel. We lay about two hundred yards due 
East from it, so that any thing coming up could not see us 
until the point was doubled, for the intervening land was 
high, and thickly wooded. Our guns were then examined, 
an extra stand of cannister put into each, and the starboard 
battery depressed and pointed at the angle of the river. We 
had scarcely finished our preparations, when a six-oared cut- 
ter shot out from behind the point, steering up the stream. 

" 1 give you fair warning," shouted Seymour : "'bout ship, 
or I'll blow you out of water." 

" Ay, ayj my fine fellow," said the English lieutenant, cool- 
ly ^ — ordering his men to lie on their oars, — " of what nation 
are you, — where from, — where bound, — and what are you do- 
ing here ?" 

" There," said Seymour, pointing to our black flag, which 
was at this instant run up at the peak, — " there is my flag, — 
the rest of me you'll find out if you come so near again. 

Now I advise you to pull back to your ship, otherwise, -^ 

All ready, starboard battery !" 

" Thank you for the hint, friend," said the English lieu- 
tenant, " and in return I'll inform you that an English seventy- 
four and two frigates are at anchor in the bay." 

" I knew all that before," replied Seymour, unconcernedly. 

" Well," said the Englishman, putting his boat about, " it's 
my opinion you'll know it again, — so, good-bye, so long :" and 
his men slowly giving way, he quietly doubled the point, and 
pulled down the river. 

" Now, Garnet," said Seymour, " we'll have some fighting 
shortly, for I can't afibrd to be blocked up here, and must and 
will be at sea, in eight-and-forty-hours, come what may." 

" That's easier said than done," I replied, — '• for that liner's 
broadside would be no child's play." 

" Poh !" said he, contemptuously, " I see you don't under- 
stand all the tricks of the trade, yet. Take our third-cutter^ 
and pull down that channel as far as is safe, keeping close in- 
shore, and then take to the bushes, and find out what those 

20 



154 CRUISE OF A GUINEA-MAN. 

Englishmen are doing, and return quickly. Meanwhile I will 
send ashore for my slaves." 

I pulled down stream accordingly, but seeing nothing, I left 
the boat in care of the crew, and went on through the forest 
alone, down to the hill overlooking the bay. I then saw that 
the frigates were the same we had sent to sea after the pirate, 
and the liner was a heavy one, carrying an hundred guns. 
They had anchored at first in the centre of the bay, but now 
all had weighed again. The frigates stood down the bay, and 
anchored, one on each side of the mouth, athwart-ships of the 
channel outside, while the line-of-battle sailed up to the head 
of the bay, put her helm down, and bringing every thing flat 
aback, shoved herself into the narrow channel her own length, 
stern foremost, and then anchored head and stern in the mid- 
dle of it. 

" Pretty good seamanship, Mr. Bull," thought I, as I ob- 
served this plugging-up manoeuvre, — for there seemed to be 
scarcely room for her boats to pull alongside of her, much less 
for a ship to pass, — " it will not be easy to run by a fellow 
as wide awake as you are." 

I had now ascertained all that was needful, — so I returned 
to my boat, which had lain snug under the bushes, about half 
wa^'" down the channel. As the Englishman's guns command- 
ed the whole of it, we were obliged to unship our oars, and 
scull up stream, keeping well under the banks, — and it was 
well we did so, for just before we reached the angle in the 
river, we carelessly shot into the middle of the stream, when, 
quicker than thought, six thirty-two pound shot whistled 
over our heads, followed by a roar of genuine English thunder. 
"We were not desirous of any more such, and took to our oars • 
giving way strongly, we doubled the point just as six more 
round shot kicked up the water astern of us. 

" Pretty good gunnery, Mr. Bull," thought I, as I pulled 
alongside the brig, and made report to Seymour, — " I have 
no desire to play at short bowls with you." 

I had scarcely gained the vessel, when the Englishman be- 



CRUISE OP A GUINEA-MAN. 155 

gan to fire his stern-chasers, one a minute, up the channel, 
and the thirty-two pound shot skipped along over the water, 
and dashed through the forest, knocking trees and earth about 
in every direction, — and, of course, completely commanding 
the whole length of the channel. We were at first at a loss 
for the reason of this firing, but when night came on, and a 
palpable darkness fell upon us, and the Englishman commen- 
ced a rapid fire of round shot, grape, and cannister, we knew 
at once that his object was to prevent our playing any " Yankee 
shine " upon him. He had obtained the proper range before 
dark, and as his shot swept the Eastern channel, we were glad 
to keep very clear of it. 

About midnight, however, Seymour determined to try his 
hand at the game, and ordered me to take fifty men, armed 
with cutlasses, pistols and muskets, and go down through the 
woods as near to the Englishman as was prudent, and then 
sweep his decks with musketry. Being landed on the left 
bank of the river, we silently wound our way through the fo- 
rest, and approached to within half musket shot of him un- 
heard, and each taking a tree for a screen, according to old 
Kentuck principles, we opened upon him in fine style, direct- 
ed by the flash of his stern chasers, with which he was still 
sweeping the channel. Although the Englishman was evi- 
dently surprised by our sudden attack, he took it very coolly, 
and without knocking off" from his stern-chasers a moment, the 
marines and small-arra-men, were summoned to their stations, 
according to the regular routine of nautical war, and in five 
minutes his ship was one entire blaze of musketry, fore and aft. 
Here, however, we had all the advantage, being considerably 
elevated, and entirely protected by the trees ; the flashes of our 
guns, (their only guide,) were of course small, but the broad 
sheets of flame from her stern-chasers completely illuminated 
her decks, affording us every facility for accurate shooting. 

The Englishman soon found that this method of procedure 
would not do, but from our peculiar situation it was somewhat 
difiicult to tell what would do. The banks of the channel 



156 CRUISE OP A GUINEA-MAN. 

were quite bold, rising at an angle of sixty degrees, and the 
place we occupied was so much elevated, that the guns of her 
larboard battery could not be brought to bear upon us at all. 
While I was congratulating myself on the advantage we evi- 
dently had over them, their fire of musketry, which had been 
unintermitted, suddenly ceased,— and the next instant, a lot of 
thirty-two pound shot were tossed at us, informing us that John 
Bull had slewed round his starboard spar-deck battery. This, 
however, did not annoy me at all, — for carronades are clum- 
sy things, and their shot never hit " once in a place," and 
moreover, are thrown with so little force, that a fellow with 
stout ribs may laugh at them. Finding that this did not trou- 
ble us, they changed to grape, and cannister, — but we, still 
protected by our trees, kept up our fire, not being so easily 
scared. 

When the failure of this experiment became apparent, the 
increased bustle on the Englishman's decks, showed that now 
he was going about floggingus according to science, — and a few 
minutes after, his stern-chasers, which till now had been steadily 
sweeping the channel, suddenly ceased firing. Thinking that 
something new was coming, I gave orders to change ground ; 
and the word being silently passed from one to another, we 
moved a couple of hundred yards to the Eastward, — and it was 
well we did so, for the next instant, fire-balls were thrown by 
the dozens into our former ground, followed by a shower of 
round, grape, and cannister, from the long thirty-two pound 
stern-chasers, which kicked up a row among the trees in fine 
style. An instant after, a few dozen of Consreve rockets were 
thrown into the bushes in every direction, and some of them 
chancing to alight in our vicinity, dispelled my doubts as to 
the propriety of a retreat ; so instantly tacking ship, we were 
off at ten knots an hour. 

" Well, Mr. Garnet," said Seymour, when I had reported 
progress on board, ^'it is very plain that this Englishman 
won't budge tack nor sheet for all we can do : so, since he 
won't go away, we must. I shall go to sea to-day, in spite of 



CRUISE OF A GUINEA-MAN. 157 

every thing, — therefore make your will, and holy-stone your 
conscience, — for though I shall certainly succeed, who will live 
to tell of it, is another question. We must get the rest of our 
cargo elsewhere, for we are not more than two-thirds full." 

I admired Seymour's resolution ; but although he had here- 
tofore been astonishingly successful, I did not think that this 
plan was among the possibilities, and began to cudgel inven- 
tion for a yarn to spin in case of a capture. Now, for the first 
time, I began to have some compunctious visitings as to the 
lawfulness of my present employment, and I began to debate 
with myself how far my forcible entry into the trade would 
excuse my remaining in it, — and finally came to the conclu- 
sion, as most men would, to stand by and see what would turn 

When the day dawned, the English ceased firing, and were 
evidently waiting for some of their small craft to arrive, so 
that they could come up and attack us on terms of equality, — 
knowing full well that to attempt to carry us in boats would 
be madness. All the morning, business went on as usual, and, 
except receiving slaves on board, we made no apparent prepa- 
ration for sea, lest the English should learn it from the natives, 
who we well knew always actually served the strongest party. 
But in reality, every preparation was made, and by four bells 
in the forenoon watch we were completely ready for sea. 

At seven bells, (half past eleven.) Seymour, who had been 
ashore, deliberately returned aboard. 

" Mr. Carline," said he to the second lieutenant, " jump into 
that canoe alongside, with a couple of men, and pull to the 
turn in the river. Wave your handkerchief when the English 
liner pipes to dinner, and then pull for us. Mr. Garnet, hoist 
in all the boats, and stow the quarter-boats amid-ships in the 
launch, instead of running them up at the davits." 

As I proceeded to put his command in force, I rather won- 
dered what all this should mean. 

" Now, Sir," said Seymour, " pipe down hammocks." 

" Down hammocks, indeed," thought I, as I repeated the or^ 



158 CRUISE OP A GUINEA-MAN. 

der : " pretty well done for seven bells, A. M. Captain Sey- 
mour," said I, " it strikes me you are getting sleepy." 

" You will find I am wide awake, I guess" replied Sey- 
mour, " Now then, John Garnet, unshackle the cable abaft 
the bitts, and stand by to slip it. Loose all sail, and hoist 
away every thing. Brace up sharp on the larboard tack. Man 
sheets and tacks, and stand by to sheet home. Clear away 
both batteries, and run them in," — (the guns were double-shot- 
ted, with grape and cannister,) " and now, Mr. Garnet, we are 
ready to ru7i by them." 

" The-e-e devil /" said I, as I walked away, thunderstruck 
at the madness of his plan : " hark you. Captain Seymour, if 
that's your scheme, we are candidates for immortality, as true 
as I'm a sinner." 

•' Mr. Garnet," said Seymour angrily, " I beg you will re- 
member that I command this vessel." 

" Ay," said I, " and you will please to remember that I am 
a pressed man. But this is no time for quarrelling, so we'll be 
friends for the present. By and by, I promise myself the gra- 
tification of shooting you at ten paces." 

" Do," he replied, coolly. 

The wind was now blowing fresh from the North-East, — 
the tide was running down at four knots, — and we rode head 
to the wind by the larboard-bower, with a kedge astern. Sey- 
mour stood upon the poop, watch in hand. 

"It keeps English time," said he, " for I set it by their bell 
this morning. It now wants one minute of twelve. Mr. Gar- 
net, slip the chain-cable, — we'll ride by the kedge." 

It was slipped accordingly, and the brig swinging round, 
was brought up by the kedge, though it seemed as if the haw-- 
ser would part with the strain. A carpenter's mate stood by, 
axe in hand, ready to cut, and Seymour watched Carline for 
the signal. An instant after, he waved his handkerchief, and 
struck out for us. 

" Sheet home !— cut away !" shouted Seymour, 



CRUISE OP A GUINEA-MAN. 159 

It was done, — in an instant we were under way, — and Car- 
line and his men jumped aboard, leaving the canoe adrift. 

" Now," said Seymour, " go below every man of you, except 
those at the wheel, and stay there 'till you are called. I will 
shoot the first man that puts his head above the combings of 
the hatches. Mr. Garnet, you had better go below too, — you 
can do nothing on deck." 

" I am greatly obliged to you. Sir," said I, " but I'll stay on 
deck and see the fun." 

We shortly doubled the point, and with wind and tide, shot 
rapidly down the stream. We were not observed, and ap- 
proached nearer and nearer to the liner, undiscovered, until our 
flying jib-boom was nearly over her tafirail. 

" Port !" whispered Seymour. 

The helm was shifted accordingly, and we passed the star- 
board side of the seventy-four so closely, that her main-deck 
battery swept our larboard-hammock-netting off clear, while 
our starboard-bulwarks almost touched the bank of the river. 
Knocking the ashes from the cigar which was accidentally in 
my mouth, I fired the aftermost gun of the larboard-battery 
plump into the liner, just as her crew, aroused by the colli- 
sion, dropped their cans, — (it being grog-time,) manned their 
starboard-battery, and let drive. They were a little behind 
time, however, for we had that instant shot past them, and all 
their guns threw their iron harmlessly astern of us, while we, 
doubling the point, were soon out of their reach. 

"All hands make sail !" shouted Seymour, — " round in the 
larboard-braces. Stand by to set the starboard studdin'-sails." 

With such government, we were under all sail in less than 
no time, and with studdin'-sails, and sky-sails, the wind on 
the starboard-quarter, we dashed down the bay. 

" Pretty well done. Captain Seymour," said I : " but you 
are not safe yet. Do you hear that ?" 

The English frigates, awakened by the liner's broadside^ 
were beating to quarters, and as they lay across the channel, 
on each side of the mouth of the bay, I thought our final escape 



160 CRUISE OF A GUINEA-MAN. 

was yet a question. Not so, Seymour, — for, rubbing his hands 
in irrepressible glee, he walked about the poop, giving his or- 
ders, almost beside himself with joy. 

" Hillo, Signal quarter-master :" said he, — " we won't 
mince matters ! send up our black ensign at the main. We'll 
give Johnny Bull a target for his shot." 

The words were scarcely out of his mouth, when a storm 
of iron rushed past us, and looking astern, we saw that the 
liner, having slipped her cables and fired a broadside, was 
coming after us, making all sail. 

" Very good oysters," said Seymour, with a grimace that a 
baboon might have envied : " Mr. Garnet, poke at him with 
our stern-chasers, and make him a 'candidate for immortali- 
ty,' while I try my hand at guessing with these fellows 
ahead." 

We accordingly blazed away with our stern-chasers, to in- 
jure him if possible, and to cover ourselves with smoke. We 
soon reached the mouth of the bay. and just before we passed 
the points which would bring us within range of the frigates, 
Seymour sung out : 

" Man both batteries ! Straight as you go, Quarter-master." 

We passed the capes, steering right on for the reef, which, 
as I mentioned in the last chapter, ran across the mouth of 
the bay,-— and as soon as our guns came to bear, we gave each 
frigate a broadside, and our aim being true, and the guns dou- 
ble shotted, they made a crashing. They reserved their fire, 
thinking that we should be obliged to pass near one or the 
other, and they would then give it to us solidly. 

We continued our fire ; and Seymour, standing upon the 
poop, began to cun the brig himself; and although the smoke 
was so dense that we could not see a fathom, he gave his or- 
ders as promptly as if it were clear day and plain channel. 

" Blaze away, my lads," said he, " we'll do Johnny Bull, all 
we can." 

An instant after he sung out : 

" Knock ofi" firing ! Hold on, every body !" 



CRUISE OF A GUINEA-MAN. 161 

The order was obeyed, and the next moment we struck 
heavily on the reef. 

'•' Very good/' said Seymour^ — " once more, you beauty." 

We struck again, and then slipped over the reef into deep 
water. 

" All hands cheer ship !" he shouted. We sent up the En- 
glish ensign at the fore, gave it three cheers^ and went on our 
course under all sail. The English could not follow us over 
the reefj as they drew too much water : but they slipped their 
cables, fired their broadsides at us in spite, and then stood 
through the channel, — but before they were clear of it, we 
were hull-down in the South- West. 

Take it as a whole, our escape was really a master-piece of 
daring and nautical skill. It required the mind of a man to 
conceive the plan of running past a line-of-battle-ship in broad 
daylight and in such a channel, and indomitable resolution to 
put that plan into effect ; for had we been discovered two mi- 
nutes sooner, one broadside would have totally annihilated us. 
The attempt was made when the English piped to dinner 
and grog, because they would naturally be remiss in their 
look-out at this time, — thinking more of the grog-tub than 
of us. Hammocks were piped down^ because Seymour knew 
that the liner's main deckers would just sweep the netting. 
Yards were braced sharp, because, if square, they would lock 
in the Englishman's rigging. Boats were stowed amid- 
ships^ because there was no room for them on the quarter. 
Guns were run in for the same reason ; and, after crossing the 
bay, he steered over the reef, knowing that there was one place 
where we should touch-and-go without injury. Such sea- 
manship deserved success, — whatever were the cause, — and 
obtained it ; for at sunset we were clear of land, and the 
English fleet was out of sight astern. 

" Mr. Garnet/' said Seymour, as soon as it was dark, " we'll 
haul our wind, and stand South-East for the land, because I 
have no idea of going to Brazil half loaded." 

We altered our course accordingly, and stood for the shore* 

21 



162 CRUISE OF A GUINEA-MAN. 

The former part of the night was quite dark, but about four 
bells in the mid-watch it cleared up a little. 1 was accidental- 
ly on deck at the time, and, sweeping the horizon with my 
night-glass, I discovered a strange sail on the starboard-bow, 
distant about three miles. Reporting it to Seymour, I receiv- 
ed orders to give chase, and putting up the helm, and crowd- 
ing all sail, we were after her as fast as a six-knot breeze 
would carry us. The stranger perceiving us, made all sail 
to escape, but it was in vain, — for at daylight we were within 
half a mile. She was evidently a Guinea-man, being a long, 
low, suspicious-looking schooner, and we ranged up within 
pistol-shot, without firing a gun,— so that we should not break 
any of her crockery, and ordered her captain to come on 
board. He came accordingly, and Seymour receiving him on 
the quarter-deck, being moved by virtuous indignation no 
doubt, began to read him a furious lecture on the enormities 
of the slave-trade. 

" Why," said he in astonishment, pointing to the woolly 
pates lying about our decks, " you are a slaver too." 

But Seymour only lectured the harder, and wound up as 
regular-built a preachment as any chaplain ever spun, by or- 
dering him, at his peril, to send all his slaves on board of us 
instantly. He did not dare to disobey, — and when the trans- 
fer was completed, Seymour quietly said to him : 

"Now, Sir, you may go back to Africa and get as many 
more as you like, for these just complete my cargo. There, 
Mr. Garnet," he continued, as we filled and stood away to the 
Westward, " that's what we slavers call borrowing.''^ 

Having nothing now to detain us, we cracked away merrily 
for the South'ard and West'ard, and about noon of the eigh- 
teenth day after leaving the coast of Guinea, the look-out aloft 
reported a sail on the star-board-bow. The wind being the 
South-East trade, and blowing fresh, we instantly up-helm, 
made all sail, and gave chase, and by four bells in the after- 
noon watch, we could see with our glasses that she was a 
large ship on the larboard-tack, heading West, and sailing 



CRUISE OP A GUINEA-MAN. 



163 



lazily along under topsails and courses. One thing was very 
plain : the stranger was in no kind of haste, and being led by 
this fact to examine her more closely, I became convinced that 
she was a man-of-war, and accordingly remarked to Seymour, 
that perhaps she would be a Scotch prize. 

But he replied, that having the weather-gage, we could sail 
as near as we liked with perfect safety, and therefore cracked 
away. As we sailed very fast, we were within four or five 
miles of her at seven bells in the afternoon watch, and then 
saw plainly that she was a frigate. She showed English co- 
lors, and fired a gun to attract our observation ; but we took 
no notice of either. 

" Mr. Garnet," said Seymour, " I believe that is one of the 
English frigates we choused so neatly a fortnight since, and 
we'll run down to them, so that we may know them, and they 
us." 

We accordingly approached within two miles of her, keep- 
ing well to windward, and then fired our long forty-two 
at her, and sent up our black flag at the main. That rather 
provoked Mr. Bull, — the shot happening to hit him, and he 
let drive at us the whole of his larboard-battery, hauled close 
on the wind on the larboard-tack, and, as quick as thought, 
was under all sail. His shot did us no essential harm, and 
giving him our starboard-battery in return, we changed our 
course from West to South-West, crowded every thing, and 
ran across his fore-foot unhurt. He instantly up-helm and 
gave chase, and the breeze being a stiff" one, we were both off 
at a fine rate. For tw© hours he lost considerably, but about 
sunset it began to breeze up, and threaten a gale. 

"Now, Captain Seymour," said I, "you understand we 
shall catch a gale of wind shortly, and the English being the 
heaviest, will catch ms." 

" Don't chuckle too soon, Lieutenant Garnet," he replied, 
" we'll escape this fellow easy enough." 

" That remains to be seen," was my brief rejoinder, as I 
squinted to windward. 



fe 



164 CRUISE OP A GUINEA-MAN. 

The wiad now increased rapidly, — so much so, indeed, 
that at eight bells in the second dog-watch we were obliged to 
take in all our studdin'-sails, — but the Englishman kept his 
fast, and, although eight or nine miles astern, evidently gained 
on us. Seymour, however, was not at all disturbed, but gave 
orders and cracked jokes as cheerfully as ever. With the 
gale, clouds came on, and it grew quite dark, not so much so, 
however, as to prevent our seeing each other, while we cracked 
on, shortening sail only when absolutely necessary, as the En- 
glish gained upon us slowly but surely. 

About midnight, Seymour, who had been coolly walking 
about the poop, suddenly stopped, and after thinking a mo- 
ment, ordered a reefer to call the master. 

" Mr. Q,uadrant," said Seymour, as soon as he came upon 
deck, " work up your reckoning, and tell me where we are 
now, and bear a hand about it." 

Q,uadrant dived, and in an instant returning, said : 

" By dead reckoning. Sir, we are now in Latitude 20° 25' N. 
Longitude 28° 12' W., standing West-by-South." 

"Bring me the chart," said Seymour. It was brought, and 
after studying it a moment, he threw it by, and said to me : 

" Mr. Garnet, we are not far from Martin Vas and Trinidad. 
Take your post. Sir, on the to'-gallan' forecastle, and keep a 
bright look-out ahead. If you see any thing, or think you 
see any thing, sing out to the wheel, and men whom I shall 
station along the gangway will pass the word." 

I took my place accordingly, and f' gazed into dim futurity." 
Martin Vas and Trinidad are two small islands in the South 
Atlantic, not far from the coast of Brazil, which rise precipi- 
tously from the sea to the height of three or four hundred 
feet, nearly or totally inaccessible. They are both quite 
small,— the larger not exceeding five hundred yards across, — 
and this fact, added to their abrupt sides, has entirely preserv- 
ed them from the polluting tread of man. Here, in the solemn 
solitudes of the ocean, they silently sit, uninhabited and alone. 
Ages upon ages have rolled over them, and they are still the 



CRUISE OF A GUINEA-MAN. 165 

same as on that day when the morning stars sang together, and 
the sons of God shouted for joy in view of the fair handiwork of 
the Almighty. The ocean, lashed into fury by ten thousand 
tempests, has dashed against their rocky bulwarks in impotent 
wrath, — for they stand "steadfast and sure :" far removed from 
the noise and turmoil of man, clothed in quietness, they slum- 
ber on, lulled by the murmurs of the deep. Confident in their 
rocky foundations, they laugh at the roar of the storm. Though 
the waters of the troubled sea chafe their sides, their summits 
are visited only by the pure radiance of the luminaries of 
heaven. 

The water does not shoal as you approach them, and being 
composed of dark rock, there is nothing about them to warn 
the careless mariner of his danger. Hence our unusual cau- 
tion. 

" How far astern are the English now ?" 1 inquired, about 
four bells in the mid-watch. The man passed aft, and return- 
ing, said, — " About a mile. Sir." 

As the wind now blew a gale, this was as I expected, — and 
shrugging my shoulders at the prospect astern, 1 turned my at- 
tention to the prospect ahead. It had become quite dark; 
I could scarcely see at all, and was about to relinquish my 
look-out as useless, when I saw ahead the dim outline of an 
object resembling a large ship before the wind. 

" Mr. Jones," said I to a reefer near me, '• go aft. Sir, and 
report to Captain Seymour a sail right ahead, and be quiet 
about it." 

Seymour came forward, and after examining the object a 
moment, said : 

" Mr. Garnet, that is not a sail : it is the bluff which rises 
from the sea halfway between. Martin Vas and Trinidad. It 
is nearly two hundred feet in height, entirely precipitous on 
every side, not more thv'm a hundred feet in diameter at the 
base, and slightly conical. That is what you suppose to be a 
ship, and in the dark it might readily be mistaken for one,— = 



166 CRUISE OF A GUINEA-MAK. 

and if we manoeuvre rightly, it will ensure our escape, and put 
a stop to our pursuers." 

He then proceeded to give me my orders, and returned to 
his station upon the poop. 

" Starboard a little," was my first hail to the wheel. It was 
obeyed, and produced just enough alteration in bur course to 
bring the bluff one point on our starboard-bow, which, wish- 
ing to screen it from the view of the English, was just what I 
wanted. When very near the island, distant, say, two hun- 
dred yards, just as I had repeated my order to the wheel, 
the English frigate being only a quarter of a mile astern, fell 
off a point or two from the wind, and a thirty-two pound 
shot, from her l^ow-chaser, carried away our main-top-mast. 
This accident, apparently so disastrous, was our salvation. 

" Starboard a little," I repeated. 

We were now about a ship's length from the island, and 
the English not more than three or four, astern. At this in- 
stant they fired at us again. The shot raked us fore-and-aft, 
but it was their destruction. Their vision was obscured by its 
smoke, and, mistaking the island for us, a loud voice from her 
forecastle, which we knew to be her first-lieutenant, hailed : 

" Port the helm ! We'll run her down !" 

We slipped passed the pillar-island so closely, that our star- 
board-main-yard-arm grazed its precipitous side, and the next 
instant the Englishman's flying-jib-boom, jib-boom, and bow- 
sprit, successively struck against the immoveable rock, and 
were driven in upon the hull by the violence of the collision. 
A moment more, and the hull itself dashed against the fatal bar- 
rier, crushing her bulwarks, and making a fearful breach for the 
entering waves. A frigate, however, is too substantial a craft 
to be destroyed by, perhaps, any one blow that she can receive ; 
and in this instance the strength of her bows sufficed to resist 
instantaneous destruction. She recoiled, accordingly, a few 
fathoms, and her first lieutenant, in terror, shouted : — 

" Starboard-the-helm ! — hard-a-starboard !" 

It was too late'! Recovering from the recoil of the first 



CRUISE OF A GUINEA-MAN. 167 

shock, the frigate struck again so violently, that her bow was 
totally demolished. Meanwhile we had hove-to, and now 
could hear the water rush into our antagonist with a roar, 
which plainly showed that her last hour was come. She roll- 
ed heavily to windward once, and then went down ; and her 
crew heard, amid the roar of the tempest, the cheers which 
Seymour, with his usual cold-blooded ferocity, ordered our 
crew to give them, sounding in their ears like the laugh of 
the fiends of hell ! 



The gale had now abated, and we, having repaired damages, 
and rigged new spars aloft, crowded all sail for the West'ard 
and South'ard, and at noon of the fourth day, with Spanish co- 
lors at the peak, we entered the harbor of Rio Janeiro. 

As we neared the anchorage of men-of-war, I observed 
among them the United States' frigate Constellation, (the one 
with which we had a brush in leaving New- York,) and per- 
ceiving, as we approached, that her quarter-deck was crowded 
with officers, Seymour altered our course so as to pass across 
her stern, — as we were now in a neutral-port, and had noth- 
ing to fear from her. Commodore Montague was standing 
upon the signal-locker, and as we passed under her stern, Sey- 
mour, pointing to the slaves who were lying about our decks, 
hailed him with : 

" Friend Montague, I'll pick out a dozen of the prettiest, and 
send them aboard of you, shortly, for your own peculiar." 

It was beneath the dignity of a Captain of the United States' 
Navy to bandy defiances, or deal in blackguardism, with a 
slaver, — and, accordingly, Montague pretended not to hear 
what Seymour said, — but the blood mounting in his face, 
showed plainly that the taunt was heard, and felt. To carry 
out his system of bravado, Seymour ordered to let go the an- 
chor, about three hundred yards from the Constellation, and veer- 
ing away cable, we lay precisely parallel to her, broadside to 
broadside. The weather now being awfully hot, we were of 
course desirous to land our slaves as quickly as possible, and 



168 CRUISE OP A GUINEA-MAN. 

having made the necessary arrangements with the authorities 
of the port, we commenced discharging cargo at four p. m., 
and used such dispatch, that before seven that evening, not 
one remained aboard. This operation being completed, 
Seymour turned his attention to his small warfare with the 
Constellation, and mustering our band, — a strong one by the 
way, — upon the poop, he saluted Montague's ears with " Hail 
Columbia" and "Yankee Doodle," — and when eight-bells 
came, it was " made " in true man-o'-war style, — two eighteen- 
pounders, and a full band, announcing to all in port in general, 
and the Constellation in particular, that our watch was set. 

The next morning, about ten o'clock, having performed my 
usual duties, I went down into the ward-room, and shortly re- 
appeared on deck in the same dress 1 wore the day we left 
New York : 

" What now ! Mr Garnet," said Seymour in surprise, as I 
walked aft upon the poop. 

" I come. Sir, to request a boat," I replied. 

" As first-lieutenant of this vessel. Sir," answered Seymour, 
still more surprised, " you need not ask that as a favor. It is 
your right." 

" I hold rank here no longer. Sir," said I. " I was kidnapped 
by you, and have participated in your infamous atrocities thus 
long, only because I have had no opportunity to leave you. 
While you were in danger and difficulty, I scorned to quit you : 
it would have seemed like fear^ to which I am a stranger. 
But now, assuring you that a viler scoundrel than yourself 
never crossed my hause, I inform you that I am about to sur- 
render myself to Commodore Montague aboard the Constella- 
tion." 

" My respects, and a pleasant voyage, to you, Sir," said Sey- 
mour, — for he saw it was useless to remonstrate, and his pride 
was mortally piqued at my unexpected personal denunciation , 
— " boatswain's-maie, call away the first-cutter. I hope. Sir, 
you will do me the favor to take your pay, due for services 
rendered, Sam," (to his steward.) " bring me a bag of guineas." 



CRUISE OP A GUINEA-MAN. 169 

Not being disposed to prolong the interview, or accept his 
insulting offer, I walked to the starboard-gangway without 
reply, and entering the first-cutter, pulled for the Constella- 
tion. The moment I reached her deck, 1 ordered the boat to 
shove off, and return to the brig, and then walked aft to meet 
the Commodore. 

I proceeded at once to detail my adventures, so far as was 
necessary to explain my appearance in his vessel, and conclu- 
ded by surrendering myself a prisoner. He heard me through, 
patiently and courteously, and then, pursuing his own inves- 
tigation, inquired the particulars of Seymour's conduct and 
cruise. When I had finished a brief sketch of the same, he 
abruptly asked, if all her slaves were then ashore, and all 
hands, and Seymour, aboard. I told him they were. 

"Mr. Roberts," said he to his fourth-lieutenant, "take ten 
men, and board the ship which has just anchored between us 
and the slaver : she has a long range of cable out : present my 
respects to her commander, and request him to heave-short : 
assist him with your men, and remain on board of her till re- 
called. Mr. Thompson," (first-lieutenant,) " clear away and 
man the starboard-battery, — load with round, grape and can- 
nister, and order the gunner to open the magazine, and stand 
by to pass up powder." 

By the time these orders were obeyed, the merchantman had 
hove-short, and the brig lay exposed to view. 

" Take good aim, my lads," said Montague, " at the slaver. 
All ready ? Fire !" 

At the word, the whole of the Constellation's starboard- 
broadside was poured into the brig, tearing open her bulwarks, 
and dismounting her guns. For five minutes the frigate con- 
tinued a most terrible battery, and Montague then perceiving 
that the brig was totally a wreck, ceased firing, and ordered 
the boats to be manned to board her. As the men were jump- 
ing into the boats, I observed that the brig was evidently be- 
ginning to sink, and was communicating that fact to an offi- 
cer near me, when an explosion, louder than thunder, rent the 

22 



170 CRUISE OF A GUINEA-MAN. 

heavens, and the slaver, blown into ten thousand fragments, 
flew into the air. For an instant there was a dead silence, 
which was followed by the fallingof the shattered masts, spars 
and planks of the brig, mingled with the dead bodies of her men. 
And thus, as it ought, ends the "Cruise of a Guinea- 
Man." 



The pirate 6f the south 

PACIFIC. 

PUBLISHED IN THE KNICKERBOCKER MAGAZINE, 
SEPTEMBER, 1835. 



One Wcirm afternoon in January, 18 — , I lay caulking 
away on the stowed fore-topraast-staysail of the sloop of war 

F -, then lying at anchor in the port of Yalparaiso. The 

said stowed-staysail is a glorious place to '• soger" at any time, 
for the netting keeps one from rolling overboard, and Number- 
three canvass is as soft as (some kinds of) down ; and it is 
well out of the way, and free from those bothersome interrup- 
tions so common on the decks of men-of-war. I cannot, it is 
true, recommend said staysail as a caulking place at sea, for 
while a fellow is dreaming away about " sweethearts and 
wives," the officer of the deck may rub his eyes suddenly, and 
the following dialogue ensue : 

Lieut. Forecastle, there ! 

Master's Mate. Sir ! 

Lieut. Man the fo'-topmast staySail-halyardSo 

Master's Mate. All manned, for'ard, Sir. 

Lieut. Hoist away the staysail ! 

And then up goes our downy couch, and overboard goes the 
dreamer ; and a cold bath is not always pleasant, even in warm 
climates, especially when so applied. 

These are pull-backs at sea, — but in port, there is nothing 



172 THE PIRATE OP THE SOUTH PACIFIC. 

of the kind to fear ; so I, Jack Garnet, snored away in most 
magnificent style. 

Alas ! however, no man can safely count upon any thing 
in a man-of-war, save a flogging, which he is pretty sure to 
get from one cause or another. While dreaming about " Mary 
and Co." as above, my slumbers were dispelled by a kick from 
a good-natured fore-topman, who rode down the stay to in- 
form me that the'first-cutter was called away ; and turning-out, 
I heard the boatswain's mate " making my number," that is, 
roaring out " Jack Garnet ! Pass the word for Jack Garnet !" 
" Here you are," said I to the boatswain's mate, as I jumped 
from the forecastle into the waist. 

" Get in the boat, you Sir," said the lieutenant of the watch, 
who was standing at the gangway, " and look out for half-a- 
dozen when you return." 

'' Ay, ay. Sir," I promptly replied. I took my oar, — we 
shoved ofi", let fall, and gave way. 

We had no officer on board save a mid., and I was at first 
at a loss to know where we could be going ; but after pulling 
half an hour, we boarded a merchantman which lay at anchor 
far out in the harbor, beyond Little Cape Horn, and nearer Point 
Angels than Valparaiso. She was in some trouble, having 
suddenly and by accident come to anchor, while sailing out of 
the harbor, — the cat and fish of the starboard-bower having 
parted, — and there she lay with seventy fathom of cable out 
ahead, and her sails whipping the masts in fine style, every 
thing having been let go by the run. 

" You Garnet," said the mid., as he went up the ship's side, 
" stay in the boat, and have your nap out, for you remember 
Mr. Harrison promised you half-a-dozen ; so get ready for it." 

" Ay, ay, Sir," I replied, and sitting down in the stern-sheets, 
the painter being made fast on board the ship, I proceeded to 
obey orders, while the rest of the boat's crew began to heave up 
our friend's anchor, and so forth. 

It is one of my rules never to borrow trouble ; and so I nap- 
ped away, my dream beginning where it had left off on board 



THE PIRATE OP THE SOUTH PACIFIC. 173 

the sloop-of-war : and I enjoyed myself and the rest of them 
in true man-of-war style. 

How long my slumbers may have lasted, 1 know not, — 
but 1 was at length awakened by the rolling and pitching of 
the boat, she having shipped a heavy sea, which thoroughly 
ducked Jack Garnet, any how. I bolted up, and found myself 
in a peck of troubles. 

Some one in the hurry of duty on board the merchantman, 
had accidentally cast off the painter of my boat, and the South 
wind having suddenly freshened into a snorter, I had quietly 
drifted out to sea, and now found myself outside Point Angels 
in a stiff breeze, rolling about on the mountain surges of the 
Pacific Ocean. The thing was done so quietly, that no one 
on board had observed it, (the aforesaid squall having taken 
them unawares,) and they did not perceive my departure un- 
til after I made that discovery. Here then 1 was, far enough 
from any possible aid, captain, cook and all hands of the first 

cutter of the F sloop-of-war, — all alone by myself, and 

nobody with me, — outward bound. 

T'aking the tiller, I endeavored to keep her head to the wind^ 
to diminish her way out to sea ; but finding that she broached- 
to rather too often, I took an oar and pulled her round, stern 
to the wind. I then resumed the tiller, and began to make a 
straight wake before the wind, to Coquimbo, Callao, or Davy 
Jones'. I now made fine headway, so fine, indeed, that I had 
soon the satisfaction to see that all the shipping in Valparaiso 
was out of sight, and Point Angels drifting rapidly astern. 
To add to the uncomfortable romance of my situation, the sun 
was now setting, and never to my view did he sink so hurried- 
ly to repose ; and the Andes, which are wont to glitter in his 
effulgence long after he disappears from our firmament, were 
suddenly shrouded in gloom. With a long look at the dim out- 
lines of those majestic watch-towers of creation, which seemed 
in darkness to mourn over my forlorn condition, and with a 
brief listening to the whistling of the wind, and the loud voice 
of many waters, as they broke in thunder on the distant shore, 



174 THE PIRATE OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC. 

I bade farewell to lifcj and in silent despair laid me down in 
the boat, forgetting that though '^ the waves of the sea are 
mighty, and rage terribly. He who sitteth in Heaven is 
mightier." 

My boat luckily needed not my guidance, for the swell was 
long and regular, and the wind blew steadily frorn the South, 
and she kept straight upon her course, mountiny the waves 
gallantly, as if sensible that her voyages were not yet ended, 
and that she should again float under the stars and stripes of 
the Land of the Free. 

The sun next day was high in heaven, when my slum- 
bers were dispelled by the report of a musket, and a voice 
hailing' 

" Boat 'hoy !" 

I rose, and looked wildly around. I was in the open sea:, 
now smooth and tranquil, — no land in sight, — while off a 
hundred yards, a large brig was lying-to. The hail was re- 
peated : 

"Boat 'hoy!" 

" Fleet !" I replied, mechanically, for the captain of the 

F was the senior officer on the station, and I had not yet 

forgotten the usages of the first-cutter. 

" Ha ! ha !" roared the spokesman : " Fleet, indeed ! Where 
are you bound, Mr. Commodore 7" 

By this time I had collected my scattered wits, and perceiv- 
ing that they were lowering a boat, I made no reply. 

I was speedily picked up, and taken on board the brig; and 
a glass of half-and-half being given me, I found both eyes and 
tongue ; and while telling my story, I saw that the brig was 
large and heavy, mounting ten guns over her bulwarks^ hav- 
ing no ports, and full of men. These were rather suspicious 
particulars, and I was glad to find that the person command- 
ing, was in the best of humor, being greatly amused by my 
narration. 

" Well, well !" said he, after a long fit of laughter, " since 
you are Commodore of the American fleet, I must treat you 



THE PIRATE OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC. 175 

civilly : so, for'ard there ! Cook, give this man some break- 
fast." 

While discussing said breakfast, and racking my brains to 
think whereaway I was, the truth suddenly flashed into my 
mind that I had heard something said in Valparaiso about a 
piratical vessel which had been seen off the coast of Peru. 
The story was, that many merchantmen had been plundered 
by her, but that no violence was ever offered to officers or 
crew by the pirates, unless they resisted, nor even then any 
thing more than was necessary to subdue them. Cargo never 
was touched ; all they wanted was gold and silver, and that 
being surrendered, they always went ofi' peaceably. They 
were spoken of as a horrid looking set of fellows, command- 
ed by a remarkably handsome young man, — all speaking a 
strange language, and unable to understand a word of English, 
Spanish, or French. It was also said that they were usually 
seen near evening, and that at night, though frequently in 
plain sight, they would alwa^'-s suddenly disappear, — and 
though frequently seen and chased by men-of-war, they al- 
ways disappeared entirely at night, — while in the day, they 
sailed like the wind, laughing at pursuit. My informant also 
said, that the piratical vessel was a brig, with painted ports, 
carrying ten guns, and a long twenty-four pounder on a pivot. 
All this was true of the brig I was now on board of. She 
was heavily sparred, her canvass white, and masts raking ; 
while her sharp bows, beautiful shear, and clean run, at once 
convinced me, that though manned by imps and commanded 
by Satan, she was as sweet a craft as ever ploughed the sea. 

When I had finished my breakfast, and related my yarn to 
the hands forward, who, though hideous looking rascals, spoke 
English well enough, I was ordered aft again to meet the scru- 
tiny of the Captain, whom I had not yet seen. He was a 
small man, below the middle size, slender form, delicate limbs, 
and a face so smooth and round that he did not seem to be 
over eighteen, while his voice was melody itself, being low 
and exquisitely modulated. 



176 THE PIRATE OP THE SOUTH PACIFIC. 

Having heard my story, and assured me of kind treatment, 
he demanded to know of me what ships were in Valparaiso 
Bay, inward or outward bound, and what men-of-war were 
there, — the state of things ashore, — what vessels were expect- 
ed, and where from, — and lastly, whether I had heard any 
thing said about a pirate off the coast of Peru. I answered 
these manifold questions as fully as possible, and in reply to 
the latter, said what I had heard, — adding, truly, that the En- 
glish sloop-of-war T was despatched a week before to 

protect the merchant service from him. 

This last item afforded him much amusement. 

"Well, my lad," he said, "it will be a long time before 
they catch us, — for we are, as you see, that same pirate, — 
friends to the sea, and enemies to all who sail upon it. We 
are short of wood and water, and must go into Valparaiso to 
fill up, — not, however, till your sloop-of-war comes out ; but 
since you say she is about to remain there, I will entice her 
out. You can now take care of yourself I shall not ask of 
you any duty, and as soon as I can, will set you ashore." 

It was now about noon, and the brig, — which had been ly- 
ing-to since I was picked up, — filled her maintop-sail, made 
all sail, and boarding her starboard -tacks, was off with the 
speed of light, South-by-East, to make Point Angels, leaving 
my boat adrift. The Andes were yet in sight, and Valparaiso 
not far distant ; so that in an hour Point Angels was in plain 
view, and at four p. m. we entered the bay, steering straight 
for the F . 

All hands were now upon deck, and to do them justice, the 
brig was worked admirably. The long twenty-four was haul- 
ed aft, and pointed over the taffrail, while the rest of the guns 
were cleared away, and double-shotted. All this preparation 
for action rather puzzled me, for I could not think that the pi- 
rate-captain seriously intended to fight the F -, inasmuch as 

her battery of four and twenty twenty-four pounders would 
have blown us out of water in five minutes. However, I took 
my stand on the forecastle, determined to see the fun, whatever 
it might be. 



THE PIRATE OP THE SOUTH PACIFIC. 177 

i 

When we were within about a mile of the F , I began 

to perceive some motion on board of her, and the boat of the 
Captain of the Port, which chanced to be alongside of her, sud- 
denly cast off and made sail towards us. 

" What is the battery of the F ^?" inquired the Captain, 

who was standing near me at this moment. 

" Medium twenty-fours, Sir," said I. 

"Very good," he replied, calmly, and then sung out, as he 
walked aft, " Man the starboard battery !— stand by ! Hands 
by the weather-braces ! Slack the lee ones ! Hard up the 
helm!" 

We were now not more than half a mile from the F , 

(which as yet lay quiet, with her sails loosed to dry,) and, 
wearing round, each gun of the starboard battery, (long 
twelves,) was fired at her, as it came to bear, until we were 
round on the larboard tack, when, giving her the long 
twenty-four, we were off, two points free, standing out to 
sea. 

Our first shot, which struck the hull of the F , was 

followed, quick as thought, by the notes of her drum beating 
to quarters, while her jib run up as if by magic, and her cables 
slipped, topsails were hoisted and sheeted home. She fell off 
before the windj and hauled up on the larboard-tack, — her 
larboard battery speaking in thunder as it came to bear; then 
crowding every thing, she gave chase. 

Here, however, she was at disadvantage. — for we had the 
start of a mile, — and, moreover, were under fine headway. 
Her true game was to keep away a little, and if possible carry 
away some of our spars with round shot ; but that part she 
determined to put off until it could be given with effect, — no- 
thing doubting that she should speedily overtake us. 

But in this the Commodore reckoned without his host, for 
we rapidly slipped away from him, working to windward of 
him in spite of his teeth. He carried on, however, with un- 
daunted zeal, though we gradually increased our distance 
from one mile to six or seven, and darkness found him still 

4io 



178 THE PIRATE OP THE SOUTH PACIFIC. 

driving ahead, with every rag of canvass spread to the breeze, 
which was now a ten-knotter from West-North- West. 

When day-light was fairly gone, our Captain had ordered 
signal-lanterns to be sent up to the main skysail-mast-head, 
and at each yard-arm, in order to challenge the F to con- 
tinue her chase ; and now, (eleven o'clock,) the F being 

at least ten miles astern, he ordered mast and yard-ropes to be 
rove, and all hand to " stand by to rig ship." 

This order brought me up all standing, for I could not 
imagine what was to follow ; but his crew understood the 
thing perfectly. Some large spars were brought aft, double- 
purchase-tackles were rigged on the main-mast, and on the 
taffrail, hatches were opened, and whips and top-burtons rigged 
on the stays. Some hogsheads, containing fireworks, were 
tossed overboard, but kept in tow, and numberless other pre- 
parations made in less time than I can write them. 

" All ready?" hailed the Captain. 

" All ready. Sir !" was the answer, from all parts of the 
vessel. 

" Then fire !" he continued. 

Every gun was discharged atonce, and at the instant the hogs- 
heads astern blew up with a tremendous report, and the ocean 
and the firmament were illuminated with a ghastly blue glare, 
and all the lights aloft were extinguished, so that the next mo- 
ment we were in darkness. The main and fore-royal and sky- 
sail-masts and yards were then sent down, — the mizen-mast 
stepped — a topmast and top-gallant-mast rigged and yards 
crossed, while the guns were all lowered into the hold. Davits 
were then made fast at the sides, and whale boats run up at 
them, while others were placed keel-up on the booms, and in 

fifteen minutes we tacked, and stood towards the F , as 

complete a whaling ship as ever doubled the Horn. The 
-tackles, etc., were then unrove, — all hands but sixteen sent 
below, — the hatches put on, and away we bowled for the 

F . The Captain then left the deck, the first-mate taking 

command ; but shortly after returned from below, dressed as 



THE PIRATE OP THE SOUTH PACIFIC. 179 

a woman, and directed our motions, though all orders were 
given by the mate. 

In half an hour we were near the F- , on her weather- 
bow, standing as if to cross her wake. When within three 
hundred yards, she sent up a light in her mizen-rigging, and 
fired a gun, which in nautical parlance means, "Heave-to, I 
wish to speak you." 

We hove-to, accordingly, in true merchantman-style, while 

the F backed her main-to'-sail, as became a crack sloop- 

of-war. 

" What ship is that ?" hailed the first-lieutenant, in the 
short, peremptory manner proper for a man of his dignity. 

" The Three-Sisters, of New-Bedford," replied our first-mate, 
taking the Yankee twang in a most admirable manner. 

" Where are you from, — and where bound, — and what's 
your master's name ?" — continued the first luff. 

" [ expect we 'm from a cruise," drawled the mate again, 
" bound to Valp iraiso for wood and water, and our old man's 
name is Andrew Maxwell, at your sarvice." 

" Have you seen a strange sail hereaway ?" interrupted the 
Commodore. 

" Guess I see a clipper of a brig pretend to blow up, about 
half an hour ago, but she only made b'lieve, for I see her ag'ia 
cuttin' away to the Nor'ard and East'ard, pretty considerable 
fast, I expect," drawled the mate ; " howsomever, that was in 
the old man's watch, and he's turned in now, snorin' like a 
lobster, and I'll be darned if I want to call him, for he's cross 
as the divil if you break him of his sleep, — and his wife 
would n't like it neither, I guess ; so I'd a leetle ruther not, — 
if it's all the same to you." 

"Clap a stopper over all, you infernal Yankee," hailed her 
first luff; and then she braced up again, and was off like a 
shot in chase of said brig, while we up-stick, and bore away 
for Valparaiso. H re, then, was the secret of the pirate's 
constant escape from all pursuers, — this change of form, which, 



180 THE PIRATE OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC. 

of course, would deceive any one, — e. g. the Yankee com- 
mander ofthe F . 

The next day, with only thirty hands to be seen, and with 
our whaling appearance, we entered the port of Valparaiso,-^ 
not a brig, nor commanded by a handsome young man ; as 
our acting Captain had a face like a dead-eye,'and our real 
commander played wife to him, for the time being, as young 
and handsome as ever. Some waggish persons, indeed, little 
thinking how truly they spoke, insisted that the said wife was, 
to all intents and purposes, commander ofthe ship, — since the 
Captain had a way of saying, *' Til ask my loife^^ on all im- 
portant occasions. 

At the end of four day§, — the said whaler having wooded 
and watered, etc., — I was brought upon deck, (for I, too, had 
been kept under hatches since our arrival, that I need not be 
seen by any loafers,) and having been sworn to secrecy, (which 
said oath, n. b., I kept,) I was set ashore ; and then the Three- 
Sisters weighed anchor, and, under a cloud of canvass, stood 
out to sea, to re-commence her fair-trading operations. 

What became of her thereafter, is none of my business, 
though I am told, her tricks were at last found out ; and a 
bright-sided brig, which she industriously chased for a whole 

day, and finally overtook, proved to be the F' sloop-of-war, 

— her commander thus paying the devil in his own coin ; and 
in the interchange of " warm expressions," which followed, the 
F sent her so effectually to the bottom, that it was gene- 
rally supposed she would stay there a lime, unless Jimmy 
Flatfoot actually took her under his wing. However, friend 
Greenhorn, all this is none of our business. 



THE CRUISE OF THE SPARKLER 



PUBLISHED IN THE AMERICAN MONTHLY MAGAZINE, 
AUGUST, 1836. 



It was upon a bright morning in July, 1814, that the 
American privatesr-schooner Sparkler, which had been be- 
calmed for eight-and-fovty hours, about sixty miles outside the 
Bermudas, at last caught the breeze from the North- West, and 
made all sail for the South'ard and East'ard. 

She was of that class of vessels desigrnated, in nautical par- 
lance, "Baltimore cHppers ;" and it needed but one glance at 
her symmetrical figure to perceive that she was well worthy of 
her name. About two hundred tons in burthen, long, low, and 
sharp, she was yet of great breadth of beam ; while her beau- 
tifully tapering masts seemed almost to reach the sky. 

Upon lier snow-white decks, which were without spring or 
rise, were mounted sixteen long brass twelve-pounders, eight 
of a side ; not run out of the ports, as in a man-of-war, but 
slewed fore and aft ; while her ports were closed, and her hull 
painted so exactly like that of a merchantman, in various col- 
ors, that it required a sharp eye and near observation to dis- 
cover that she was other than she seemed, a peaceful mer- 
chant-vessel from Fells Point, bound to the Spanish main. 

In addition to her batteries, she mounted amidships, upon a 
traversing carriage, a long brass forty-two pounder ; while her 



182 THE CRUISE OF THE SPARKLER. 

cutlass-racks, arm-chests, and boarding-pikes, the last lashed to 
the booms, showed that she was also well prepared for close- 
quarters, and to finish by boarding the work cut out by the 
great guns. She was withal well manned. Of her crew of a 
hundred and eighty men, the greater part was now upon deck, 
having just finished making sail ; and m their dark faces and 
muscular forms, as they carelessly lounged about, might be 
read the proof that these trusts were bestowed worthily, upon 
men who would fight to the death in defence of their striped 
and spangled buntmg. 

The captain of the privateer, dressed with some pretensions 
to nicety, but wearing a common tarpaulin, had been walking 
fore-and-aft along the starboard-quarter-deck for half an hour, 
in silence, carelessly swinging the spy-glass, with which, ever 
and anon, he swept the horizon; he now paused in his pro- 
menade, and addressed the first-mate : 

" Mr. Townsend, I don't like these Irish hurricanes. Here 
we are, eight days from Hampton Roads, and only just clear 
of Bermuda. We must make more Easting soon, or we shall 
lose the outward-bound West Indiaraen, and be compelled to 
trust to chance customers." 

" Very true. Captain Benson," replied the first-mate, who 
was at this moment staiding on a gun, and leaning against 
the s'arboari] bulwark; "but " 

" Sail ho !" sung out the 1( ok-out aloft. 

" Where away?" hailed Benson, while all hands sprang up 
at the announcement. 

"Right ahead, Sir!" was the reply. 

This news spread life throughout the vessel, and all hands 
being instantly mustered, ring-tails and bonnets were rigged, 
sail increased as much as possible, and our schooner, wing- 
and-wing, continued her course, bearing down for the stranger ; 
while her crew, dehghted at the prospect of something profes- 
sional, were speculating as to the value of the chase and the 
consequent amount of prize money. 



THE CRUISE OF THE SPARKLER. 183 

In half an hour Benson hailed the look-out: "Mast-head, 
there ! what do you make her out to be ?" 

" A large ship, Sir," replied the look-out ; " her starboard- 
tacks boarded, standing South-West." 

" Keep her more to the South'ard, Mr. Townsend," said 
Captain Benson, on receipt of this information ; " we'll cut 
her off." 

" She's a stout lump of a ship, Sir," replied the mate as he 
obeyed the order ; "she may be a man-of-war." 

" Yery good, we have the weather-gage," answered Benson, 
as he went forward to take another look. 

In an hour's time the stranger was plainly to be seen. She 
was evidently a large ship, and irom her build and appearance 
looked much like a man-of-war. This seemed more fully ap- 
parent a short time after ; for the chase, which had till now 
appeared unconscious of the presence of the privateer, sudden- 
ly hauled her wind, and made all sail towards her, while the 
rapidity with which her course was changed and her can- 
vass crowded, seemed proof-positive that she was a man-of- 
war. 

This manoeuvre produced some surprise on board the Spark- 
ler. 

" A Scotch prize, Captain Benson !" observed the first-mate, 
as he handed him the glass. 

" Perhaps so," replied Captain Benson, composedly ; '' clear 
away long Tom there, and double- shot both batteries ; we will 
soon see what she is." 

It was now about noon, and the vessels being on opposite 
courses, had approached within four or five miles of each 
other, and this distance was rapidly diminishing. 

" The chase is now within range. Sir," reported Town- 
send. 

" Very good. Sir. Let drive at him with long Tom, and 
send up the gridiron at the fore," replied Benson. 

The flag of the United States waved in the breeze, and the 
forty-two spoke in thunder the moment the order was given. 



184 THE CRUISE OF THE SPARKLER. 

This was a touch of his quality, which the chase had not 
expected at the hands of the privateer, and the smoke clearinp^ 
up, showed her bearing off before the wind, crowding all sail. 

"So much for your manofwar, Mr. Townsend," said Ben- 
son, pointing out this change of course : "she is palling a heel, 
and goes off before the wind, because that is the-worst point 
in a schooner's sailing. Run out the batteries, load long Tom, 
and open the magazine. We will try this fellow a little, any 
how." 

Meanwhile, on board the English West Indiaman, (for such 
was the stranger.) all was confusion and dismay. Her com- 
mander had from the first suspected that the schooner was an 
American privateer, but had adopted the bold course of stand- 
ing towards her in chase, to give the impression that she was 
a man-of-war, well knowing that it was in vam to hope toes- 
cape by superior sailing from a Baltimore clipper. The re- 
port of the Sparkler's long forty-two, however, and the sight of 
the shot, which struck the water just ahead of him, had dis- 
pelled all his hopes of frightening her ; and now, as a last re- 
source, he put his helm up, and bore away to the South- East, 
hoping to leave his pursuers astern until some other ship 
might heave in sight to save him. 

This was certainly his wisest course, and his vessel being 
a fast sailer, and under a press of canvass, made rapid head- 
way. She was of the largest class of English West Indiamen, 
about twelve hundred tons in burtheuj and was now from 
Plymouth, bound to Kingston, Jamaica, with a very valuable 
cargo and a number of passengers ; and, to defend the whole, 
carried sixteen twelve-pounders and a crew of forty men. 

" Clear away those guns, my lads, and open the magazine," 
said the commander of the Indiaman, who, though he wished 
to escape, yet had a stomach for dry knocks ; " I wish we had 
a forty-two-pounder, for then we'd fight the Yankees on better 
terms." 

" I hope, Captain St, John," said a passenger, who at this 



THE CRUISE OF THE SPARKLER. 185 

moment came up the companion-way, " I hope, Sir, you do 
not intend to fight the American." 

" Certainly I do, Mr. Tompkins," repUed St. John ; " he shall 
not take all our cargo, and the ship into the bargain, without 
fighting for it, I promise you. Why, our cargo alone is worth 
fifty thousand pounds sterling ! Jonathan shall not make his 
fortune this time, if I can prevent him." 

" But, Sir," continued Tompkins, anxiously, " consider the 
lady-passengers. I beg you, Sir, to surrender to the Ameri- 
can, and perhaps he will treat us well : while, if you fight him, 
he will be enraged, and " 

" Kill all our males, and carry our women, and children 
into captivity beyond Babylon^ as the Scripture has it," inter- 
rupted St. John, hastily—" Consider the devil ! All that the 
ladies have to do, is to stay below and be quiet ; and you, 
doubtless, will fight to the last in defence of your wife and 
daughter ; so there's another hand to work owr guns. I mean 
he shall treat us well, and as for his rage, why we'll get 
angry too. Come, Mr. Tompkins, there's a musket for you." 

"I sha'n't touch it. Sir," said Mr. Tompkins, "it's against 
my principles to fight, and I will bring the matter before the 
passengers to see if they will permit you to throw away all 
our lives in this manner 5" and so saying, he went hastily be- 
low. . 

" Good pluck, that," said St. John, laughing at the bravery 
of his live freight ; "however, perhaps " 

Whiz-z-z came a forty-two-pound shot from the long Tom 
of the privateer, which interrupted his soliloquy, and passed 
through his main-royal ; and shortly after, another walked 
through the bunt of all three topsails ; and a moment after a 
third struck his starboard quarter, knocking the splinters about 
in every direction ; while the ladies below screamed at the top of 
their lungs to mend the matter. 

" Now, my lads," said St. John, quietly addressing his crew, 
" send up our ensign at the peak, and stand by to shorten 
sail." 

24 



186 THE CRUISE OP THE SPARKLER. 

Continuing his course for a moment, that the privateer might 
distinctly see his colors, he then put down his helm, hauled 
close upon the wind, and stood towards her, justly considering 
it folly to attempt farther escape while every shot raked him 
fore-and-aft. That he might go into action in true man-of war 
fashion, St. John next ordered to take in the royals, fore and 
mizen top-gallant sails, and flying-jib ; hauled up the courses, 
and depressed both batteries for close quarters, and made 
every preparation of small arms and cutlasses, to beat off the 
privateer if possible, and, in any event, to send some of the Jo- 
nathans to Davy's locker. 

This change in the Englishman's course produced a corres- 
ponding one in the privateer's. He shortened sail, and per- 
ceiving that the Indiaman intended to show fight, continued 
to blaze away with his long forty-two, directing his shot solely 
to her decks, not wishing either to carry away her spars, nor 
hit her between wind and water ; and, thoroughly understand- 
ing gunnery, his round shot coursed along the decks and ca- 
bins of the Indiaman with terrible precision, causing great 
fright and some positive injury to her timid passengers. 

They were, however, soon huddled up in the run in securi- 
ty, not one caring to fight for his dinner ; St. John having 
coolly told them that they would certainly be captured by the 
privateer, but that he was determined to have the satisfaction 
of peppering the Yankees somewhat, any how. 

This, however, was not so safe an undertaking ; for, as the 
privateer rapidly neared them, grape-shot was added to round, 
in her forty-two, which scattered around with their wonted 
fatal and appalling effect, while the round shot continued to 
perform its usual mission in its usual careful and scientific 
manner ; tearing up the decks, dashing in the bulwarks, and 
knocking those terrible missiles, the splinters, among the crew ; 
while the crowds of armed men, now distinctly seen cluster- 
ing about the decks of the privateer, showed full plainly that 
she was amply prepared for the combat hand to hand. 

As one after another of the Indiaman's crew was cut down 



THE CRUISE OF THE SPARKLER. 187 

by one or the other of these destructives, the remainder, in- 
stead of being cowed, were, with true bull-dog spirit, only the 
more exasperated, working ship with great speed and undaunt- 
ed bravery ; and when the privateer began to open upon them 
with his larboard-battery, they immediately returned the same 
in coin very spiritedly ; and the long forty-two of the American 
being now neglected for the moment, the combat became more 
equal, each vessel working eight twelve -pounders of a side. 

The commander of the privateer was much surprised at 
meeting with such determined resistance where he had expect- 
ed abject submission ; and as the vessels neared, soon became 
aware, from the destructive effect of the English fire upon his 
crowded decks, that he must put an end to the present game im- 
mediately, and trust to boarding for success. He accordingly 
changed his course so as to pass across the bows of the Indiaman, 
intending to rake him thoroughly and then board him ; but St. 
John, who was now in his element, loudly cheering his men, and 
fighting most determinedly, was fully aware of his intention ; 
and falling off before the wind also, he let drive his whole star- 
board-battery down upon the decks of the American and among 
his rigging, carrying away her fore-gaff, and the throat and 
peak-halyards of her mainsail ; which last came thundering 
down by the run; and then, despite the broadside of the schoo- 
ner, which swept along his decks in thunder and flame, he in- 
stantly hauled again upon the wind ; so that, disabled as was 
the privateer, she lay right in his course, and was apparently 
doomed to be run down by the immense hull of the Indiaman. 

This seemingly inevitable result was prevented, and the 
whole aspect of the combat changed by one of those small 
events which have so often turned the tide of battle. 

At the moment of receiving the Indiaman's broadside, there 
were two men at the privateer's wheel ; the one at the lee- 
wheel was instantly killed by a grape-shot, while the other, 
(who escaped unhurt,) in his endeavor to free the wheel from 
the grasp of the dying man, forgetting that the helm was still 
a spoke or two a-lee, put it hard-up. The schooner still had 



188 THE CRUISE OF THE SPARKLER. 

headway upon her ; and the wind, acting upon her disabled 
sails, suddenly brought her head around to port, so that, she 
being a point upon the Indiaman's starboard-board bow, her 
jib-bcom just swept clear of the ship's cutwater, and in an in- 
stant she was lying along her weather-side, afoul. 

" Boarders, away !" shouted Benson, perceiving his advan- 
tage ; and, despite a volley of musketry, which laid low a do- 
zen of his best men and wounded more, he was instantly upon 
the Indiaman's deck, backed by a hundred men. The combat 
now was brief, and the English Captain being struck down, 
his men perceived farther resistance useless, and hauling down 
their colors, surrendered ; having thus far kept at bay a most 
overwhelming force, with a determination and effect which 
proved them worthy representatives of the English name. 

duarter being given to all, the wounded were handed over 
to the surgeon of the privateer, and the remainder of the In- 
diaman's crew was sent on board of the schooner. The Ame- 
ricans then set about securing their prize and repairing dama- 
ges ; and before twilight had darkened into night, both vessels 
were close hauled upon the wind, still from the North- West, 
standing in for the American coast. 

The injury to both vessels was principally in the upper 
works, spars and rigging, neither having received any mate- 
rial shot between wind and water ; so that neither sprung any 
alarming leaks, and what few took place were soon plugged ; 
and so, continuing the repairs of the masts, sails, etc., the In- 
diaman having a stout prize crew, they kept on their course 
for the land. 

The passengers of the Indiaman were treated with the ut- 
most respect, their cabin being left entirely for their use. They 
were also requested to point out their own private property, 
which would not in any event be touched ; and Captain Ben- 
son having farther assured them that they should be landed 
at Bermuda if possible, they finally came to the conclusion 
that he was a very polite fellow, and their lot far from forlorn. 



THE CRUISE OP THE SPARKLER- 189 

About midnight the weather having become very thick, it 
fell a dead calm, and so continued until morning. 

Now, it so happened that an English sloop-of-war, of twenty- 
four guns, though out of sight, had heard the cannonading of 
the day previous, and from the heavy reports of a single gun 
at intervals of a minute, became convinced that the gun in 
question was the long Tom of a Yankee privateer. Acting 
upon this belief, she had so shaped her course that she would 
probably be nearly up with the privateer at daybreak ; rightly 
judging, that upon making the capture, the American would 
steer for the United States' coast. In the darkness she had ap- 
proached the privateer, though neither party was sensible of 
this proximity, and being also becalmed, had laid all night 
within six miles of her. 

As the day broke, the wind sprung up from the North-East, 
and the privateer had just hauled upon it, in company with her 
prize, when the look-out aloft reported a sail ! — and sure enough, 
in plain sight to the South-East, was an English sloop-of-war 
crowding every thing in chase. 

Surprised Benson doubtless was ; but with his usual 
promptitude his plan of operations was instantly laid, and run- 
ning the schooner close under the lee of the Indiaman, a line 
was thrown aboard of her, by means of which three others were 
passed. 

" Now, Mr. Townsend," said Benson, '' lower away the stern 
and quarter-boats ; lay them alongside and fill them with men. 
You will go with them on board the Indiaman, and make all 
sail, for in this chase her prize crew will not be sufficient to 
work her rapidly ; and when you have done that, open her 
hatches, rig whips and top-burtons, toss her boats overboard, 
and get the most valuable of her 'tween-decks' cargo on deck 
with all speed. Farther orders I will transmit by signal or 
otherwise." 

These commands were soon obeyed, and the boats were 
sent twice full stowed, both vessels being at the time under 
rapid headway. Thus a hundred of the privateersmen were 



190 THE CRUISE OP THE SPARKLER. 

on board the ship very shortly, while the boats were hauled 
back empty to the schooner, and run up at the davits as be- 
fore. 

Thus well-manned, the Indiaman was instantly under a 
cloud of canvass, and all her damages being repaired, she 
proved a crack sailer, and about equal on the wind,- (her course 
being North-North- West) to the sloop-of-war. The privateer 
on this shortened sail to keep abreast of her prize, and all three 
bowled merrily onward. 

" There goes your launch, neighbor," said Benson to St, 
John, who was walking with him the quarter-deck of the 
schooner as the ship's long-boat was tossed over the side ac- ' 
cording to orders, while the stern and quarter-boats followed 
suit in their small way, thus making quite a fleet adrift, all of- 
ficers and no seamen, like a French man-of-war. " I hope 
they will have a pleasant cruise : — perhaps the sloop-of-war 
may pick them up to prevent so shameful a waste of good stuff. 
That reminds me, by-the-by, she may be within range, — here, 
haul that forty-two aft, some of you ; we'll try Mr. Bull at long- 
bowls." 

The long Tom was accordingly hauled aft, elevated, and 
let drive ; but the distance proved greater than Benson had 
imagined, for although the shot actually hit the sloop-of-war, 
it was too nearly spent to do much injury. 

This Mr. Bull determined to repay in coin, but having noth- 
ing heavier than a twenty-four pounder, was obliged to ele- 
vate it so much that the shot fell wide of the mark astern. It 
showed, however, that the privateer might be hit by a chance 
shot, and Benson, determining to avoid the possibility, how- 
ever remote, of being crippled in this manner, changed his 
position so as to bring the Indiaman between himself and the 
sloop-of-war ; and that they might be fully aware what his 
prize was, he ordered to send up at her peak the English ensign, 
under the stars and stripes ; and at her mast-heads her private 
signal and all the holiday bunting usually sported by English 
West Indiamen. 



THE CRUISE OF THE SPARKLER. 191 

By thus placing the Indiaman between himself and his pur- 
suers, where she was more likely to be hit than the schooner, 
Benson hoped to escape harm through the natural unwilling- 
ness of the sloop-of-war to fire upon her own flag. 

This was a true Yanltee trick, and was, for a time, for the 
foregoing reason, successful ; the sloop-of-war contenting her- 
self with crowding all sail in chase, seldom replying to the 
shot, which, one after another, with most provoking pertina- 
city and skill, were pitched always in her vicinity, and fre- 
quently plump into her, from the privateer's long forty-two, 
hoping thereby, (herself a prime sailer,) to rescue the India- 
man in good order, and compel the privateer either to take to 
his heels alone, or be sent to the bottom for his covetousness, 
when she should come down upon him with her reserved 
fire. 

Now all this was very fine ; but the sloop-of-war, though 
one of the crackest sailers in his Majesty's navy when going 
large, (before the wind,) was not so excellent when close-haul- 
ed, and was destitute of the true independent Yankee way of 
putting the wind's eye out with her flying jib-boom-end when 
on a bowline ; accordingly, at this sentimental game she did 
not make much. 

" Captain Benson," said St, John, as the privateer took up 
her position as before stated, and was firing at her pursuer as 
fast as her long Tom could be served, " you would soon escape 
the sloop-of-war by making sail on the schooner, and leaving 
my ship to take her chance." 

■' You don't say so, shipmate ?" replied Benson, with a know- 
ing wink and the true Yankee drawl. " Do tell ! — I don't do 
that 'are, Sir, by a sight," 

" Sail ho !" hailed the look-out aloft. 

" Where away ?" replied Benson quickly. 

" To windward, Sir," answered the look-out ; and in plain 
sight on the weather-bow, distant not more than eight miles, 
was a large ship bearing down, which, in the bustle of the 
chase, had escaped observation. 



192 THE CRUISE OP THE SPARKLER. 

" An English frigate, by the Lord !" shouted St. John, 
jumping on a gun. Now, Captain Benson, what do you say? 
shall' I take command in the name of his Britannic Majesty, 
God bless him ; or will you flog both the sloop and the frigate ?" 

" Spin that yarn to marines, my fine fellow," replied Ben- 
son, quietly, as he removed the glass from his eye. " There's 
nothing English about that craft, if I can read oakum," 

" I'll bet you a dinner of stewed cat harpen-legs and a tuck- 
out of grog en that, brother Jonathan," continued St. John, 
jeeringly : " but what is she, then ?" 

" She is neither American, English, or French," rephed 
Benson, " and that is all I care for. If she was one of Uncle 
Sam's forty-four-gunners, her crew would be coming in for a 
share of prize-money, and I don't want any of their assistance ; 
so I am satisfied as it is. Keep up your fire, my lads. Straight 
as you go, quartermaster." 

The sloop-of-war seemed to have been aware of the presence 
of the frigate before, for she continued her chase, occasionally 
firing a gun apparently aimed at the rigging of the Indiaman ; 
and although the frigate was meanwhile rapidly approaching, 
seemed to think that she, at least, had nothing to fear. 

For half an hour such was the state of affairs on all sides, 
and this time amply sufficed to bring the frigate within half a 
mile of the privateer on her weather-beam, heading as if to 
pass between her and the sloop-of-war. 

Benson now sent up the American flag at the fore, and at 
the same instant a broad banner blew out clear at ihe fore-sky- 
sail-mast-head of the frigate, disclosing, amid its rustling folds, 
the armorial bearings of the battle-ensign of the Danish crown ; 
while far astern, at the mast-head of the sloop-of-war, glan- 
cing in the sunbeams, waved the meteor-flag of England. 
Firing one gun across the privateer's bows, and another across 
the sloop-of-war's, the frigate continued her course a moment 
longer, and then hove-to immediately between them, sending 
up a white flag at her main. 

" The English of that, Captain St. John," said Benson, 



THE CRUISE OF THE SPARKLER. 193 

smiling-, is 'heave-to, send a boat on board, and knock-off 
firing, because I am between you ;' so belay all with that forty- 
two, and take a severe turn around the hencoop." 

He then made signal for the Indiaman to heave-to, and 
when she had done so, shortened sail on the schooner, and 
laid her right along-side of his prize, under her lee. 

" Now, Mr. Townsend," said Benson, as his boat was low- 
ered and manned, " you will turn-to all hands, and toss that 
cargo on board of us as if the devil was after you, while I 
board the frigate. — How's this?" he continued, pausing at the 
gangway, " the sloop-of-war has not hove-to." 

Such was the fact. The sloop-of-war being some three or 
four miles from the frigate, continued her course without 
minding the summons of the Dane, and this disobedience of 
her orders was apparently not observed on board the frigate. 

"That's a good one, Johnny War," shouted St. John, clap- 
ping his hands ; " you perceive. Captain Benson, that my 
countryman yonder does not care a straw for the frigate's 
orders. She is a neutral, and has no business to interfere." 

The Dane, however, was not idle, and waiting quietly until 
the sloop-of-war was within half a mile of her, she then fired 
two guns in quick succession, the shot of the first passed mer- 
rily over the water just ahead of the Englishman, while the 
second whistled between his main and mizen-masts. 

That decided the point 5 the sloop instantly backed her 
main-top-sail, while her captain, jumping into his boat, pulled 
for the frigate, chock-full of wrath at this interruption of his 
pastime. 

" A race, my lads !" said Benson, who jumped into his boat 
at this moment also ; " she's as near the frigate as we are, give 
way !" 

Now the etiquette of men-of-war pronounces it most honor- 
able to board at the starboard gangway, which, as the Dane 
lay hove-to, was the side towards the privateer, and when 
her boat was within a few lengths of the ladder, the boat of the 
sloop-of-war came under the frigate's stern, making for the 

25 



194 THE CRUISE OF THE SPARKLER. 

same gangway, it being, of course, beneath the Englishman's 
dignity to go on board at the other. 

Benson, who was as full of fun as his opponent was of 
wrath, no sooner became aware of this fact, than he steered 
directly for the bow of the other boat, and his own being a 
sharp whale-boat, he ran her right aboard with such force and 
good- will, that all the English oarsmen " caught crabs," while 
their commander, who was standing at the moment, was 
nearly thrown overboard by the concussion. 

" Old England for ever ! Rule Britannia !" shouted Benson, 
as he shoved in at the ladder ; "hope you are not drownc^ed, 
my lord. I say, my lord, I guess that 'are was as soHd as one 
of my forty-two's love-taps. "What's your opinion, my lord? 
If a fellow was to serve me such a sweetner as that, my lord, 
d n my bloody eyes, my lord, if I wouldn't be into his pork- 
barrel about East, my lord. I say, Mr. Bull," continued Benson, 
as he deliberately mounted the ladder, " wouldn't have you 
expect I meant to do that 'are ; Oh I no, my lord, it was all 
an accident done a-purpose. Come aboard, my lord; after 
me is manners." 

The Englishman, out of all patience, threw a stretcher at 
Benson's head, and following, as he needs must, since he could 
not lead, dashed upon deck, boiling over with wrath ; while, 
to add to his vexation, the officers and seamen standing around, 
though ignorant of English, were laughing heartily at the 
practical wit of the Yankee. 

Once upon the quarter-deck, Benson altered his tone ; and 
uncovering and bowing politely to the Danish Captain, he ad- 
dressed him in French, informing him who and what he was, 
and where bound ; thus giving his version of the story, while 
the Englishman stood by, awaiting his turn. 

At length he also, in obedience to the commands of the 
Dane, gave his name and that of his vessel. Captain Stanley, 

of H. B. M. sloop-of-war L ; and bitterly complained of 

the interference of a neutral power with his chase of a priva- 
teer ; and having warmed with his subject, he categorically 



THE CRUISE OP THE SPARKLER. 195 

demanded the name of the vessel and of her commander who 
had dared to heave-to an EngUsh man-of-war ; and wound up 
with the declaration, that unless he was allowed instantly to 
open his fire upon the American, lie would report the Dane to 
the Lords of the Admiralty, and through them to the King of 
Denmark. 

" All this is very good, Sir," replied the Captain of the iri- 
gate, not in the least ruffled by the furious tone of the English- 
man ; " you are on board his Danish Majesty's frigate Danne- 
brog, which I, the Baron Augustus Von Hovenburg, have the 
honor to command ; but now that I have ascertained what you 
both are, you must allow Captain Benson as much time as 
will place him as far ahead of you as he was when I first or- 
dered him to heave-to." 

" D d if I do, that's all," growled Captain Stanley. 

" But you shall, Sir," replied the Baron, secretly wishing to 
favor the American, though this proposition was only justice. 
" And moreover, I shall allow no fighting between you while 
my ship is in presence." 

" Which course does your Lordship intend to steer ?" asked 
Benson very innocently, winking at the Englishman, 

" Towards the American coast. Sir," rephed the Baron, un- 
derstanding him at once. 

" That's JHst my course, my lord," continued Benson de- 
murely ; "and I'll keep under your lordship's lee." 

"I'll bed -d if you shall. Sir," broke in Captain Stanley, 

whose patience was fast vanishing before the gibes of the 
Yankee. 

"Don't know how you'll prevent me, Sir," replied Benson 
very composedly, shutting his starboard eye, and squinting 
horribly with the other. 

" duietly, gentlemen, quietly," said the Dane gravely ; "just 
step into my cabin and take dinner with me, we'll talk this 
matter over. No refusal, gentlemen, come along." 

Captain Stanley, though wishing the Dane at the devil, 
could not refuse ; while Benson, enjoying the fun, gladly ac- 



196 THE CRUISE OP THE SPARKLER. 

cepted the invitation, and all descending to the cabin, sat down 
to dinner. 

" Now then, gentlemen," said the Baron, as he adjusted his 
napkin in the most scientific manner, and made the other re- 
quisite preparations for taking his allowance aboard, " nothing 
so much injures digestion as violent talking, therefore we will 
eat our dinner in peace, and discuss this matter over our 
wine. Captain Stanley, allow me to give you a bit of his 
Majesty's junk ;" and during dinner he talked over the news ; 
the best method of ascertaining longitude by D, R. ; an im- 
provement he had made in the log ; and narrated some well- 
twisted yarns. 

With all this delay Benson was much pleased, as he knew 
it would give time for his men to get out the Indiaman's car- 
go ; and accordingly swallowed the Baron's stories, and laugh- 
ed so heartily at his jokes, that he made quite a lodgement in 
the Dane's good opinion ; while Stanley, too angry to eat or 
talk, answered only when addressed, and then merely in mono- 
syllables. 

" Well, Gentlemen," said the Baron, as he finished relating 
an out-and-outer, and passed the bottle for the twelfth time, 
"we will now arrange this matter. When I hove-to the 
schooner, she was four miles from the sloop-of-war ; it is, of 
course, fair that she should now have the same advantage. 
You, Captain Stanley, will therefore remain hove-to until 
Captain Benson has made this headway ; and then you can 
continue your chase. But, Captain Benson, I cannot allow 
either you or your prize to keep under my lee. for I should by 
so doing violate my neutrality ; and although I shall keep 
within sight of you, it will be only to see the result of the 
game, as I shall not interfere in any way." 

" If you please, my Lord." said Benson, a comical idea en- 
tering his cranium at this moment, " thirty minutes' truce 
from the time I reach my vessel will suit me as well as four 
miles headway. In that time I shall return the Indiaman's 



THE CRUISE OP THE SPARKLER. 197 

crew and passengers on board of her, and we will then escape 
by running, or fighting, as it may happen." 

" That is very fair. Sir," repUed the Dane ; " and with that 
Captain Stanley, I think you will be satisfied. At the end of 
the thirty minutes' truce I shall fill away, and leave you to 
fight your own battles, and at that we will consider it settled." 
So saying, he returned upon deck, followed by the rivals. 

Captain Stanley, though little pleased with this decision, 
felt that it was useless to remonstrate, and sullenly mounted 
the gangway to descend into his boat, when, on glancing at 
the privateer, a sight greeted his eyes which made him pause 
and give vent to several vigorous anathemas. 

Now, it so chanced that the privateer's men having nearly 
cleared the Indiaman of the most valuable part of her cargo, 
were at this moment tossing the cases of silk and chests of 
tea in a perfect shower over her gunwale upon the deck of the 
schooner ; while the multitude of cases, boxes, etc., which lay 
about the American's deck, showed plainly that Jonathan had 
well improved his time.' 

This was too much for Captain Stanley's nerves, and jump- 
ing back upon deck, he angrily demanded of the Danish Ba- 
ron that Benson should be compelled to restore the cargo o 
the Indiaman. 

" That, Sir," replied the Baron, suppressing a laugh with 
difficulty, "is none of my business, and no part of Captain 
Benson's agreement. He agreed to leave the ship to take her 
chance, but said nothing about the cargo : — you must help 
that as you can. And furthermore. Sir," he added sternly, "if 
you offer to brace up until I do, which I shall do as soon as 
the thirty minutes have expired, I shall consider it a personal 
insult, and shall open my fire upon you immediately. So, 
adieu, gentlemen ; it is seldom that I meet such pleasant so- 
ciety at sea, and I shall always remember you." 

Politely taking leave of the Baron, Benson returned first to 
his boat, when the bloody faces of both boats' crews showed 



198 THE CRUISE OP THE SPARKLER. 

that they had been enjoying a little quiet fight among them- 
selves. 

" How's this, my lads," said he in a loud tone, that Stanley 
might hear him, as he shoved off to let his boat draw up ; 
" you did wrong to flog those gentlemen rope-haulers ; you 
should have doused your peak to them. I say, Captain Stan- 
ley," he added, as tlie latter came down into his boat, " don't 
you think it would be a good plan for us to club together and 
take this frigate ? I believe we could lick her, and then we 
would have our own fight out good-naturedly, eh ?" 

The Englishman, however, was in no humor for jesting, 
and vouchsafed him no reply ; so each returned to his vessel. 

" We have taken out all the schooner will stow of the India- 
man's cargo, Sir," reported Townsend, as Benson came on 
board. 

" Very good, Sir," replied Benson ; " muster all hands aft 
here." 

Few words sufficed to explain his plan, and it was as rapid- 
ly put in execution. All the English prisoners, including 
Captain St. John, were put into the cabin of the Indiaman, 
and the companion-way, sky-lights, deadlights, and hatches, 
locked fast and battened down. Next all her sheets, tacks, 
and halyards were stoppered and unrove ; all her studding- 
sails were then set on both sides, she being still hove-to, and 
leaving the tacks standing, the sheets and halyards were also 
stoppered and unrove ; and every thing being prepared, the 
remainder of the thirty minutes' truce was employed in start- 
ing overboard the balance of her cargo. When the Danish 
frigate braced up at the close of the Iruce, the Indiaman was 
cast off from the privateer, her yards squared, and her helm 
lashed fast amidships ; and instantly gathering way, she was 
off like a shot before the wind, heading directly for the sloop- 
of-war. 

The few Americans who yet remained on board of the In- 
diaman then jumped into their boat, were hauled back by the 
line, the boat was run up at the davits, and the schooner fill- 



THE CRUISE OF THE SPARKLER. 199 

ing away, stood North-North- West ; thus keeping her prize be- 
tween herself and the sloop. 

The Indiaman, meanwhile, bore rapidly down for the man- 
of-war, and the latter was so nearly in her course, that Stanley 
found great difficulty in getting out of the way in time ; for 
had the Indiaman yawed two points, she would have run him 
slap aboard ; which concussion, as it would probably have 
sent both to the bottom, was not exactly " a consummation de- 
voutly to be wished." By this time, also, Stanley perceived 
that there were no persons on the Indiaman's deck ; and the 
nature of Benson's trick dawning upon him, he became aware 
that it was not so easy to take possession of the Indiaman, she 
having, of course, a singular degree of independence in her 
motions ; and before his plan of operations was arranged, she 
had whizzed past him, and was off to the South- West at twelve 
knots an hour. 

This was decidedly provoking, and Stanley -was obliged at 
once to give up all hopes of capturing the privateer, which had 
now gained good start to windward, and make sail in chase 
of the Indiaman ; for to leave her in her present condition would 
have been outright murder to all on board. Accordingly, with 
many heartfelt execrations at the Yankee's trick, he bore away 
in chase, while, to add to his vexation, the privateer, perceiv- 
ing his change of course, instantly put up her helm also, and 
despatching a forty-two pound shot to inform him of that fact, 
gave him chase, taking care to avoid the range of his stern- 
chasers, so that it looked altogether amazingly as if he were 
running away from the schooner. 

It was truly a laughable sight to see the sloop-of-war setting 
studding-sails alow and aloft, and cracking on every thing in 
chase of the Indiaman ; for to fire upon her could do no man- 
ner of good, as it would very likely kill some of her crew ; so 
that it was altogether quite a romantic chase, very much like 
running after eggs down hill ; to put your foot upon them, 
would stop them doubtless, but it would probably break them 
into the bargain. 



200 THE CRUISE OF THE SPARKLER. 

Accordingly, the Danes and the Yankees cachinnated great- 
ly at Stanley's pickle ; and he, guessing their thoughts from 
his consciousness of the predicament he was in, mingled all 
manner of prayers for their future condition with the orders 
he gave, the which petitions, if granted, will materially affect 
the condition of the scamps aforesaid on the lee-ward side of 
the river Styx. 

The Indiaman, meanwhile, seemed spitefully to sail like the 
devil, so that it was more than an hour before the sloop was 
abreast of her, the privateer still giving chase to both. Having 
overtaken her, it was next necessary to board her, and this, too, 
was by no means so easy. Two large ships under full head- 
way would rasp one another finely if laid alongside, while to 
send a boat was useless, as it would drop astern very shortly ; 
so here was another peck of troubles. 

Captain Stanley at length perceiving that nothing else would 
do, ran within a hundred feet of the Indiaman, and loading 
his starboard battery with chain-shot, let it drive among her 
rigging. Here, however, he got more than he bargained for. 
Intending to shoot away only the braces, the shrouds and stays 
followed ; and the wheel being also demolished, the Indiaman 
yawed suddenly, and in an instant was lying along his star- 
board-side, afoul. The consequent rasp was highly emphatic, 
and directly down thundered the masts and yards of the 
Indiaman, the greater part upon the decks of the sloop-of-war ; 
so that Stanley was, on the whole, quite decently peppered ; 
while, to crown all, the farewell forty- two-pound-shot from 
the privateer, as she hauled upon the wind for the coast, came 
crashing through his taffrail. 



MAN OVERBOARD. 

THE MSS. OP THIS PIECE, IN ITS PRESENT UNFINISHED 
STATE, WAS FOUND AMONG JOHN's PAPERS AFTER HIS 
DECEASE. 



" Meet her, quartermaster !" hailed the officer of the deck ; 
" hold on, every body !" 

Torn from my grasp upon the capstan by a mountain-wave 
which swept us in its power, I was borne over the lee-bul- 
warks ; and a rope which I grasped in my passage, not 
being belayed, unrove in my hands, and I was buried in the 
sea. 

" Man overboard !" rang along the decks. " Cut away the 
life-buoy !" 

Stunned and strangling, I rose to the surface, and instinc- 
tively struck out for the ship ; while, clear above the roar of 
the storm and the dash of the cold, terrible sea, the loud thun- 
der of the trumpet came full on my ear : 

" Man the weather main and maintop-sail braces ; slack the 
lee ones ; round in ; stand by to lower away the lee-quarter 
boat !" 

My first plunge for the ship, whose dim outline I could 
scarcely perceive in the almost pitchy darkness of the night, 
most fortunately brought me within reach of the life-buoy 
grating. Climbing upon this, I used the faithless rope, still 
in my hand, to lash myself fast ; and, thus freed from the fear 

26 



202 MAN OVERBOARD. 

of immediate drowning, I could more quietly watch and wait 
for rescue. 

The ship was now hidden from my sight ; but, being to lee- 
ward, I could with considerable distinctness make out her 
whereabout, and judge of the motions on board. Directly, a 
signal-lantern glanced at her peak ; and oh ! how brightly 
shone that solitary beam on my straining eye ! — for, though 
rescued from immediate peril, what other succor could I 
look for, during that fearful swell, on which no boat could live 
a moment? What could I expect save a lingering, horrid 
death 7 

Within a cable's length, lay my floating home, where, ten 
minutes before, not a lighter heart than mine was enclosed by 
her frowning bulwarks ; and though so near that I could hear 
the rattling of her cordage and the rustling thunder of her 
canvass, 1 could also hear those orders from her trumpet which 
extinguished hope. 

" Belay all with that boat !" said a voice that I knew right 
well ; " she can't live a minute !" 

My heart died within me, and I closed my eyes in despair. 
Next fell upon my ear the rapid notes of the drum beating to 
quarters, with all the clash, and tramp, and roar of a night 
alarm ; while I could also faintly hear the mustering of the 
divisions, which was done to ascertain who was missing. 
Then came the hissing of a rocket, which, bright and clear, 
soared to heaven ; and again falling, its momentary glare was 
quenched in the waves. 

Drifting from the ship, the hum died away : but see — that 
sheet of flame ! — the thunder of a gun boomed over the stormy 
sea. Now the blaze of a blue-light illumines the darkness, 
revealing the tall spars and white canvass of the ship, still 
near me ! 

" Maintop there !" came the hail again, " do you see him to 
leeward ?" 

" No, Sir 1" was the chill reply. 

The ship now remained stationary, with her light aloft ; but 



MAN OVERBOARD. 203 

I could perceive nothing more for some minutes : they have 
given me up for lost ! 

That I could see the ship, those on board well knew, pro- 
vided I had gained the buoy : but their object was to discover 
me, and now several blue-lights were burnt at once on various 
parts of the rigging. How plainly could I see her rolling in 
the swell ! — at one moment engulfed, and in the next rising 
clear above the wave, her bright masts and white sails glanc- 
ing, the mirror of hope, in this fearful illumination ; while I, 
covered with the breaking surge, was tossed wildly about, now 
on the crest, now in the trough of the sea. 

" There he is. Sir ! right abeam !" shouted twenty voices, 
as I rose upon a wave. 

" Man the braces !" was the quick, clear, and joyous reply 
of the trumpet: while, to cheer the forlorn heart of the drown- 
ing seaman, the martial tones of the bugle rung out, ^^ Board- 
ers, away .'" and the shrill call of the boatswain piped, " Haul 
taut and belay !" and the noble ship, blazing with light, fell off 
before the wind. 

A new danger now awaited me ; for the immense hull of the 
sloop-of-war came plunging around, bearing directly down 
upon me ; while her increased proximity enabled me to dis- 
cern all the minutiae of the ship, and even to recognise the 
face of the first-lieutenant, as, trumpet in hand, he stood on the 
forecastle. 

Nearer yet she came, while I could move only as the wave 
tossed me ; and now, the end of her flying-jib-boom is almost 
over my head ! 

" Hard a-port !" hailed the trumpet at this critical moment ; 
" round in weather main-braces : right the helm !" 

The spray from the bows of the ship, as she came up, 
dashed over me, and the increased swell buried me for an in - 
stant under a mountain-wave ; emerging from which, there 
lay my ship, hove-to, not her length to windward ! 

" Garnet," hailed the lieutenant from the lee-gangway, " are 
you there, my lad ?" 



204 MAN OVERBOARD, 

" Ay, ay. Sir !" I shouted in reply ; though I doubted whe- 
ther, in the storm, the response could reach him : but the 
thunder-toned cheering which, despite the discipline of a man- 
of-war, now rung from the decks and rigging, put that fear at 
rest, and my heart bounded with rapture in the joyous hope 
of a speedy rescue. • 

"All ready?" hailed the lieutenant again; -'heave!" and 
four ropes, with small floats attached, were thrown from the 
ship and fell around me. None, however, actually touched 
me ; and for this reason the experiment failed ; for I could not 
move my unwidely grating, and dared not leave it ; as by so 
doing, I might in that fearful swell miss the rope, be unable to 
regain my present position, and drown between the two chan- 
ces of escape. 

I was so near to the ship that I could recognise the faces 
of the crew on her illuminated deck, and hear the ofl3.cers as 
they told me where the ropes lay ; but the fearful alternative 
I have mentioned, caused me to hesitate, until I, being so much 
lighter than the vessel, found myself fast drifting to leeward. 
I then resolved to make the attempt, but as I measured the dis- 
tance of the nearest float with my eye, my resolution again fal- 
tered, and the precious and final opportunity was lost ! Now, 
too, the storm, which, as if in compassion, had temporarily 
lulled, roared again in full fury ; and the safety of the ship re- 
quired that she should be put upon her course. 



AN ADDITIONAL LETTER 



The following letter, (for some time unfortunately and un- 
accountably mislaid,) was received while these last sheets were 
going through the press. It is placed here, because it cannot 
be inserted in the order of its date without re-printing the 
book. 



Barque Iwanowna, at sea. 
Lat. 10° 1' North. 
Lon. 22° 0' West. 
Sunday morning, July 29th, 1838. 
My Deaeest Mother : 

. I have been thinking, for some time past, how emphatically 
I am and have been rebuked of God ; and I hope the fact has 
tended to humble me more to the dust. 

When at home, I said always that the sea-air -would cure 
me beyond a doubt ; but I did not add, " with God's blessing." 
Now mark the result. I have not been as well on any one 



206 AN ADDITIONAL LETTER. 

day since we sailed as I was before. My Journal is a mere 
record, — that this day I was in pain, — the next in agony, etc. 
etc. I have had the acid stomach nearly all the time, and far 
more severely than in New- York. I have had, and still have, 
an incessant dry cough, which tears me to pieces ; and, above 
all, I have a continual, steady, sharp pain in the heart, which, 
at times, is so severe and agonizing, that the fountain of life 
stands still, and flutters, as if in doubt whether to beat again. 
And, oh ! when I cough, the pain in the heart is agony, and 
the blood throbs through the carotid artery to the brain, and 
every thing looks dark, while the current, through the left- 
arm, is like an electric shock ; and that arm is now so perfectly 
disabled, that I cannot pick up a pin. 

Now all this happens at sea, and I can obtain no advice, and 
know not what to do. The pain grows more and more severe, 
and I seriously believe that in some of my coughing fits my 
heart will burst, — and then, oh mother ! where shall I appear 1 

It seems hard that I should be sent away from my com- 
fortable home and friends, to sufier and die far away at sea : 
but our Lord knows what is best, and I make it my daily 
prayer that I may submit wholly to His will. 

My accommodations in this vessel, are, in every respect, 
most miserable. My state-room, from which 1 succeeded in 
driving the bed-bugs after they had bitten me from head to 
foot, is now swarming with Sicilian fleas, which cannot be 
driven out : so I have not had an entire night's sleep since we 
left New- York. 

Dear Mother, the only comfort I have had under all this, is 
what I have sought and obtained where, only, true comfort is 
promised and can be found — at the foot of the Cross. And 
considering that death may be so near, I have endeavored 
to prepare therefor. But it is a solemn thing to die, and my 
soul starts back at the thought. 

I have a hope in Christ ; I have times of rejoicing in God ; 
I trust I have laid all at His feet ; but I mai/ be mistaken ; 
and if I am, I again say, where shall I appear ? 



AN ADDITIONAL LETTER. 207 

Here, also, I have no religious friend to advise and direct 
me : Oh, Mother, I cannot die away from you ! If God will 
spare my life now, that, when I die, I may be with you, I 
will bless His name. 

I have used all the remedies that I can think of, in vain. I 
have now taken the laudanum vial from the ship's chest, (for 
Captain Dyer pities my hard lot, and is very kind to me,) and 
intend to use it to stop the pain, until I can get advice in Rio. 

Oh, how my thoughts dwell on home ! You and Julia are 
seldom out of ray mind. So, God bless you, dear Mother. 
Your affectionate Son, 

JOHN W. GOULD. 



THE END, 



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